God's New Revelations

The Gospel According to St. Matthew

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- Chapter 5 -

1
When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
2
and He began to teach them, saying:

The Beatitudes

(Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)
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.(a)
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 sons 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 before you.

Salt and Light

(Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34–35; Philippians 2:12–18)
13
You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill (b) cannot be hidden.
15
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, 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 I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19
So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger and Reconciliation

(Luke 12:57–59)
21
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’(c) and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother (d) will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’(e) will be subject to the Sanhedrin.(f) But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.(g)
23
So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24
leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25
Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he 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.(h)

Adultery

(Leviticus 18:1–30)
27
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’(i)
28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29
If your right eye causes you to sin, 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.(j)
30
And if your right hand causes you to sin, 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 depart into hell.

Divorce

(Deuteronomy 24:1–5; Luke 16:18)
31
It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’(k)
32
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her.(l) And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths and Vows

(Numbers 30:1–16)
33
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’(m)
34
But I tell you not to swear 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
Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
37
Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.(n)

Love Your Enemies

(Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)
38
You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’(o)
39
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
40
if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
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and if someone forces you to go one mile,(p) go with him two miles.(q)
42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
43
You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’(r) and ‘Hate your enemy.’
44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(s)
45
that you may be sons 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? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
47
And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Footnotes

(a)5:5 Or Blessed are those who exercise strength under control, for they will inherit the land; see Psalms 37:11.
(b)5:14 Literally A city lying on a hill
(c)5:21 Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
(d)5:22 BYZ and TR include without cause.
(e)5:22 Raca is an Aramaic expression of contempt.
(f)5:22 Or the Council
(g)5:22 Or the hell of fire; Greek the Gehenna of fire
(h)5:26 Greek kodrantēn; that is, a Roman copper coin worth about 1/64 of a denarius
(i)5:27 Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18
(j)5:29 Greek Gehenna; also in verse 30
(k)5:31 Deuteronomy 24:1
(l)5:32 Or causes her to commit adultery
(m)5:33 Numbers 30:2
(n)5:37 Or from evil
(o)5:38 Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
(p)5:41 Greek one milion; that is, a Roman mile, approximately 4,855 feet or 1,480 meters
(q)5:41 Literally go with him two.
(r)5:43 Leviticus 19:18
(s)5:44 BYZ and TR love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully accuse you and persecute you; see Luke 6:27–28.
1
Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
2
He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

The Beatitudes

(Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)
3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. (a)
4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (b)
5
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. (c) (d)
6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for 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 children of God.
10
Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11
“Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12
Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

(Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34–35; Philippians 2:12–18)
13
“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
14
You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
15
Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
16
Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17
“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter (e) or one tiny pen stroke (f) shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.
19
Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
20
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Anger and Reconciliation

(Luke 12:57–59)
21
“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ (g) and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
22
But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause (h) will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (i) will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. (j)
23
“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you,
24
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25
Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison.
26
Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny. (k)

Adultery

(Leviticus 18:1–30)
27
“You have heard that it was said, (l) ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ (m)
28
but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29
If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. (n)
30
If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. (o)

Divorce

(Deuteronomy 24:1–5; Luke 16:18)
31
“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ (p)
32
but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery.

Oaths and Vows

(Numbers 30:1–16)
33
“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ (q)
34
but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God;
35
nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36
Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.
37
But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

Love Your Enemies

(Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)
38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ (r)
39
But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40
If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also.
41
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
42
Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you.
43
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (s) and hate your enemy.’ (t)
44
But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
45
that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.
46
For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
47
If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors (u) do the same?
48
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Footnotes

(a)5:3 ℘ Isaiah 57:15; 66:2
(b)5:4 ℘ Isaiah 61:2; 66:10,13
(c)5:5 or, land.
(d)5:5 ℘ Psalms 37:11
(e)5:18 literally, iota
(f)5:18 or, serif
(g)5:21 ℘ Exodus 20:13
(h)5:22 NU omits “without a cause”.
(i)5:22 “Raca” is an Aramaic insult, related to the word for “empty” and conveying the idea of empty-headedness.
(j)5:22 or, Hell
(k)5:26 literally, kodrantes. A kodrantes was a small copper coin worth about 2 lepta (widow’s mites)—not enough to buy very much of anything.
(l)5:27 TR adds “to the ancients”.
(m)5:27 ℘ Exodus 20:14
(n)5:29 or, Hell
(o)5:30 or, Hell
(p)5:31 ℘ Deuteronomy 24:1
(q)5:33 ℘ Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4
(r)5:38 ℘ Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
(s)5:43 ℘ Leviticus 19:18
(t)5:43 not in the Bible, but see Qumran Manual of Discipline Ix, 21-26
(u)5:47 NU reads “Gentiles” instead of “tax collectors”.
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