Matthew 5
New International Version (NIV)
Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount
5 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a
mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and
he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and
falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of
me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.
Salt and Light
13
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good
for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
14
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot
be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to
everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine
before others, that they may see your good deeds and
glorify your Father in heaven.
The Fulfillment of the Law
17
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the
Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill
them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear,
not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any
means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished.19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the
least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will
be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever
practices and teaches these commands will be called great in
the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your
righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers
of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder
21
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago,
‘You shall not murder,[a] and anyone who murders will be
subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is
angry with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to
judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister,
‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court. And anyone who says,
‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
remember that your brother or sister has something against
you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be
reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking
you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or
your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge
may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into
prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have
paid the last penny.
Adultery
27
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit
adultery.’[e] 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman
lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his
heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out
and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your
body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if
your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it
away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for
your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31
“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give
her a certificate of divorce.’[f] 32 But I tell you that anyone who
divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the
victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman
commits adultery.
Oaths
33
“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long
ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows
you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at
all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth,
for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the
Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot
make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is
simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the
evil one.[g]
Eye for Eye
38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for
tooth.’[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If
anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other
cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your
shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go
one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks
you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow
from you.
Love for Enemies
43
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i] and
hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray
for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of
your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil
and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward
will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing
that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you
doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be
perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
23
Matthew 5
The Message (MSG)
You’re Blessed
5 1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a
hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed
with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his
climbing companions. This is what he said:
3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of
you there is more of God and his rule.
4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you.
Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no
more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners
of everything that can’t be bought.
6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God.
He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’
you find yourselves cared for.
8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and
heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate
instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really
are, and your place in God’s family.
10
“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes
persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s
kingdom.
11-12 “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put
you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me.
What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are
uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer,
even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds.
And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses
have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Salt and Light
13 “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning
that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your
saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your
usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14-16 “Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing
out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re
going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you
light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket,
do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there
on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous
with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to
open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
Completing God’s Law
17-18 “Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the
Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to
demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all
together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than
the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn
out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.
19-20 “Trivialize even the smallest item in God’s Law and you will
only have trivialized yourself. But take it seriously, show the way for
others, and you will find honor in the kingdom. Unless you do far
better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won’t
know the first thing about entering the kingdom.
Murder
21-22 “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not
murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a
brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’
and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell
‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple
moral fact is that words kill.
23-24 “This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If
you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you
suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your
offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right.
Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
25-26 “Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you.
Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with
him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track
record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that
happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.
Adultery and Divorce
27-28 “You know the next commandment pretty well, too: ‘Don’t go to
bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your
virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by
lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think
nobody notices—they also corrupt.
29-30 “Let’s not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to
live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to do: You have to
blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You
have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash
pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you
notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire
being discarded for good in the dump.
31-32
“Remember the Scripture that says, ‘Whoever divorces his wife,
let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights’?
Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim,
pretending to be righteous just because you are ‘legal.’ Please, no
more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you’re responsible for
making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by
sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress,
you’re automatically an adulterer yourself. You can’t use legal cover
to mask a moral failure.
Empty Promises
33-37 “And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is
embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when
you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’
and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it.
You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious
lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less
true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your
own way, you go wrong.
Love Your Enemies
38-42 “Here’s another old saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye for
eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going to get us anywhere? Here’s what I
propose: ‘Don’t hit back at all.’ If someone strikes you, stand there
and take it. If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off
your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it. And if
someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice
the servant life. No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
43-47 “You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’
and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging
that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best
in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond
with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true
selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his
best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone,
regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love
the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you
simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any
run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
48 “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects.
Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously
and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
Matthew 5
New Life Version (NLV)
Jesus Teaches on the Mountain
5 Jesus saw many people. He went up on the mountain and sat down.
His followers came to Him. 2 He began to teach them,
saying, 3 “Those who know there is nothing good in themselves are
happy, because the holy nation of heaven is theirs. 4 Those who have
sorrow are happy, because they will be comforted. 5 Those who have
no pride in their hearts are happy, because the earth will be given to
them. 6 Those who are hungry and thirsty to be right with God are
happy, because they will be filled.7 Those who show loving-kindness
are happy, because they will have loving-kindness shown to
them. 8 Those who have a pure heart are happy, because they will see
God. 9 Those who make peace are happy, because they will be called
the sons of God.10 Those who have it very hard for doing right are
happy, because the holy nation of heaven is theirs. 11 You are happy
when people act and talk in a bad way to you and make it very hard
for you and tell bad things and lies about you because you trust in
Me. 12 Be glad and full of joy because your reward will be much in
heaven. They made it very hard for the early preachers who lived a
long time before you.
Jesus Teaches about Salt and Light
13 “You are the salt of the earth. If salt loses its taste, how can it be
made to taste like salt again? It is no good. It is thrown away and
people walk on it. 14 You are the light of the world. You cannot hide a
city that is on a mountain. 15 Men do not light a lamp and put it under
a basket. They put it on a table so it gives light to all in the
house. 16 Let your light shine in front of men. Then they will see the
good things you do and will honor your Father Who is in heaven.
Jesus Teaches about the Law
17 “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses
or the writings of the early preachers. I have not come to do away
with them but to complete them. 18 I tell you, as long as heaven and
earth last, not one small mark or part of a word will pass away of the
Law of Moses until it has all been done. 19 Anyone who breaks even
the least of the Law of Moses and teaches people not to do what it
says, will be called the least in the holy nation of heaven. He who
obeys and teaches others to obey what the Law of Moses says, will be
called great in the holy nation of heaven. 20 I tell you, unless you are
more right with God than the teachers of the Law and the proud
religious law-keepers, you will never get into the holy nation of
heaven.
Jesus Teaches about Anger and Killing
21 “You have heard that men were told long ago, ‘You must not kill
another person. If someone does kill, he will be guilty and will be
punished for his wrong-doing.’ 22 But I tell you that whoever is angry
with his brother will be guilty and have to suffer for his wrong-doing.
Whoever says to his brother, ‘You have no brains,’ will have to stand
in front of the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be sent to the fire
of hell. 23 If you take your gift to the altar and remember your brother
has something against you, 24 leave your gift on the altar. Go and
make right what is wrong between you and him. Then come back and
give your gift. 25 Agree with the one who is against you while you are
talking together, or he might take you to court. The court will hand
you over to the police. You will be put in prison. 26 For sure, I tell
you, you will not be let out of prison until you have paid every piece
of money of the fine.
Jesus Teaches about Husband and Wife
27 “You have heard that it was said long ago, ‘You must not do sex
sins.’ 28 But I tell you, anyone who even looks at a woman with a
sinful desire of wanting her has already sinned in his heart. 29 If your
right eye is the reason you sin, take it out and throw it away. It is
better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be
thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand is the reason you sin, cut it off
and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for
your whole body to go to hell.
Jesus Teaches about Marriage
31 “It has been said, ‘Whoever wants to divorce his wife should have
it put in writing, telling her he is leaving her.’ 32 But I tell you,
whoever divorces his wife except if she has not been faithful to him,
makes her guilty of a sex sin. Whoever marries a woman who has
been divorced is guilty of a sex sin.
Jesus Teaches about What to Say
33
“You have heard that it was said long ago, ‘You must not make a
promise you cannot keep. You must carry out your promises to the
Lord.’ 34 I tell you, do not use strong words when you make a
promise. Do not promise by heaven. It is the place where God
is. 35 Do not promise by earth. It is where He rests His feet. Do not
promise by Jerusalem. It is the city of the great King.36 Do not
promise by your head. You are not able to make one hair white or
black. 37 Let your yes be YES. Let your no be NO. Anything more
than this comes from the devil.
Jesus Teaches about Fighting
38 “You have heard that it has been said, ‘An eye for an eye and a
tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not fight with the man who
wants to fight. Whoever hits you on the right side of the face, turn so
he can hit the other side also. 40 If any person takes you to court to get
your shirt, give him your coat also. 41 Whoever makes you walk a
short way, go with him twice as far. 42 Give to any person who asks
you for something. Do not say no to the man who wants to use
something of yours.
Jesus Teaches about Loving Those Who Hate You
43
“You have heard that it has been said, ‘You must love your
neighbor and hate those who hate you.’ 44 But I tell you, love those
who hate you. (*Respect and give thanks for those who say bad
things to you. Do good to those who hate you.) Pray for those who do
bad things to you and who make it hard for you. 45 Then you may be
the sons of your Father Who is in heaven. His sun shines on bad
people and on good people. He sends rain on those who are right with
God and on those who are not right with God. 46 If you love those
who love you, what reward can you expect from that? Do not even
the tax-gatherers do that? 47 If you say hello only to the people you
like, are you doing any more than others? The people who do not
know God do that much. 48 You must be perfect as your Father in
heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5
King James Version (KJV)
5 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when
he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of
God.
10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to
be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be
hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one
tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of
heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not
kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever
shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but
whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest
that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with
him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the
judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till
thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not
commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust
after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and
not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee:
for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and
not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give
her a writing of divorcement:
32 But
I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving
for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and
whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time,
Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine
oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is
God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it
is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make
one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever
is more than these cometh of evil.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth
for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall
smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let
him have thy cloak also.
41
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of
thee turn not thou away.
43
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour,
and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for
he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth
rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not
even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?
do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is
perfect.