5:1 Seeing the crowds, he went up to a mountainside and sat, and his students came to him.
5:2 He began teaching them, saying:
5:3 “Blessed are the humble in spirit, for theirs is the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.
5:4 Blessed are those who yearn, for they shall be summoned.
5:5 Blessed are the humble, for they shall be given the world.
5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for devotion, for they shall be fulfilled.
5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
5:9 Blessed are those who love peace, for they shall be called servants of God.
5:10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of devotion, for theirs is the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.
5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely charge you with wickedness because of me.
5:12 Be joyful and exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in the sanctuary of the spiritual realm: For this is just as they persecuted the Prophets before you.
5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt becomes tasteless, how can it be used to season? It has become good for nothing except to be tossed out and trampled underfoot by people.
5:14 You are the light of the universe: A city on the hill that cannot be hidden.
5:15 One does not light a candle and put it under a container; but onto a candlestick where it can give light to all those in the house.
5:16 Let your light thus shine before people, so they may see your good works and glorify your LORD in the spiritual realm.
5:17 Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Scripture or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish, but to complete.
5:18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth perish, not one jot or letter shall perish from the Scripture until all is accomplished.
5:19 Whoever shall break one of these instructions and teach people in this way shall be invited last into the sanctuary of the spiritual realm. And whoever teaches them shall be preeminent in the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.
5:20 For I say to you that unless your devotion surpasses that of the scribes and pharisees, you will not obtain the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.
5:21 You have heard what was taught in ancient times, ‘You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall face the consequences.
5:22 Yet I say to you that anyone who becomes angry with his brother2 shall be subject to consequences, and whoever calls his brother 'stupid' shall be subject to judgment, and whoever speaks godlessness shall be subject to the fires of wickedness.
5:23 Therefore, if you are making your offering before the Altar of God, and you are reminded that your brother has something against you,
5:24 leave your offering before the Altar of God and go – first become reconciled with your brother and then return and present your offering.
5:25 Agree with your adversary quickly when you are disposed with him, or else at any time the adversary may bring you before a judge and the judge hand you over to the guard to be tossed in prison.
5:26 Truly I say to you, you shall by no means get out of that place until you have paid every last cent.
5:27 You have heard that it was taught in ancient times, ‘you shall not commit adultery,’
5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks upon a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her within his heart.
5:29 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out and toss it away from you, for it is better for you that you lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body cast into wickedness.
5:30 And if your right hand offends you, cut it off and toss it away from you, for it is better for you that you lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body cast into wickedness.
5:31 It has been said that ‘whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce.1
5:32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who shall marry one so divorced commits adultery.
5:33 Again you have heard that it was taught in ancient times, ‘you shall not break your promises, but shall give to the LORD what you promise,
5:34 But I say to you, make no promises at all, whether upon the spiritual realm – for it is the throne of God –
5:35 or upon the material world – for it is His footstool – or upon Jerusalem – for it is the city of the Great King.
5:36 Neither should you promise upon your head, because you cannot make one of your hairs white or black.
5:37 but let your statements be ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for anything more than these come from wickedness.
5:38 You have heard that it was taught, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
5:39 But I say to you, don’t resist the wicked, but whoever shall smack you on the right cheek, turn the other towards him as well.
5:40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
5:41 And should someone compel you to go a mile, go two with him.
5:42 Give to one who asks of you, and do not turn from one who seeks to borrow from you.
5:43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’
5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who despise and persecute you:
5:45 Thus you will be servants of your LORD in the spiritual realm, for He makes the sun rise on the wicked and the good, and sends rain upon the just and the unjust.
5:46 For if you love those who love you, where is the benefit? Even the publicans do this, do they not?
5:47 If you only salute your brothers, how is this different from others? Even the publicans do this, do they not?
5:48 Be therefore perfect, just as your LORD in the spiritual realm is perfect.
Footnotes:
1. Verse 5:22. The Greek word ἀδελφός (adelphos) refers to “a fellow believer” in either gender. In this context, Jesus speaks to his followers about how they are to treat a fellow follower, student or disciple.
2. Verse 5:31.
5:2 He began teaching them, saying:
5:3 “Blessed are the humble in spirit, for theirs is the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.
5:4 Blessed are those who yearn, for they shall be summoned.
5:5 Blessed are the humble, for they shall be given the world.
5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for devotion, for they shall be fulfilled.
5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
5:9 Blessed are those who love peace, for they shall be called servants of God.
5:10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of devotion, for theirs is the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.
5:11 Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely charge you with wickedness because of me.
5:12 Be joyful and exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in the sanctuary of the spiritual realm: For this is just as they persecuted the Prophets before you.
5:13 You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt becomes tasteless, how can it be used to season? It has become good for nothing except to be tossed out and trampled underfoot by people.
5:14 You are the light of the universe: A city on the hill that cannot be hidden.
5:15 One does not light a candle and put it under a container; but onto a candlestick where it can give light to all those in the house.
5:16 Let your light thus shine before people, so they may see your good works and glorify your LORD in the spiritual realm.
5:17 Don’t think that I have come to abolish the Scripture or the Prophets: I have not come to abolish, but to complete.
5:18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth perish, not one jot or letter shall perish from the Scripture until all is accomplished.
5:19 Whoever shall break one of these instructions and teach people in this way shall be invited last into the sanctuary of the spiritual realm. And whoever teaches them shall be preeminent in the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.
5:20 For I say to you that unless your devotion surpasses that of the scribes and pharisees, you will not obtain the sanctuary of the spiritual realm.
5:21 You have heard what was taught in ancient times, ‘You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall face the consequences.
5:22 Yet I say to you that anyone who becomes angry with his brother2 shall be subject to consequences, and whoever calls his brother 'stupid' shall be subject to judgment, and whoever speaks godlessness shall be subject to the fires of wickedness.
5:23 Therefore, if you are making your offering before the Altar of God, and you are reminded that your brother has something against you,
5:24 leave your offering before the Altar of God and go – first become reconciled with your brother and then return and present your offering.
5:25 Agree with your adversary quickly when you are disposed with him, or else at any time the adversary may bring you before a judge and the judge hand you over to the guard to be tossed in prison.
5:26 Truly I say to you, you shall by no means get out of that place until you have paid every last cent.
5:27 You have heard that it was taught in ancient times, ‘you shall not commit adultery,’
5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks upon a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her within his heart.
5:29 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out and toss it away from you, for it is better for you that you lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body cast into wickedness.
5:30 And if your right hand offends you, cut it off and toss it away from you, for it is better for you that you lose one of your body parts than to have your whole body cast into wickedness.
5:31 It has been said that ‘whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce.1
5:32 But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and anyone who shall marry one so divorced commits adultery.
5:33 Again you have heard that it was taught in ancient times, ‘you shall not break your promises, but shall give to the LORD what you promise,
5:34 But I say to you, make no promises at all, whether upon the spiritual realm – for it is the throne of God –
5:35 or upon the material world – for it is His footstool – or upon Jerusalem – for it is the city of the Great King.
5:36 Neither should you promise upon your head, because you cannot make one of your hairs white or black.
5:37 but let your statements be ‘yes’ or ‘no’ for anything more than these come from wickedness.
5:38 You have heard that it was taught, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’
5:39 But I say to you, don’t resist the wicked, but whoever shall smack you on the right cheek, turn the other towards him as well.
5:40 If anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
5:41 And should someone compel you to go a mile, go two with him.
5:42 Give to one who asks of you, and do not turn from one who seeks to borrow from you.
5:43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’
5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who despise and persecute you:
5:45 Thus you will be servants of your LORD in the spiritual realm, for He makes the sun rise on the wicked and the good, and sends rain upon the just and the unjust.
5:46 For if you love those who love you, where is the benefit? Even the publicans do this, do they not?
5:47 If you only salute your brothers, how is this different from others? Even the publicans do this, do they not?
5:48 Be therefore perfect, just as your LORD in the spiritual realm is perfect.
Footnotes:
1. Verse 5:22. The Greek word ἀδελφός (adelphos) refers to “a fellow believer” in either gender. In this context, Jesus speaks to his followers about how they are to treat a fellow follower, student or disciple.
2. Verse 5:31.
If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house,
and if after she leaves his house she becomes the wife of another man,
and her second husband dislikes her and writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house, or if he dies,
then her first husband, who divorced her, is not allowed to marry her again after she has been defiled. That would be detestable in the eyes of the LORD. Do not bring sin upon the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance. (Deut. 24:1-4 NIV)
