Jesus Teaches on the Mountain
Jesus sits down on a mountain and calls the mourning, the meek and the persecuted blessed, then pushes the commands inward: past murder to anger, past adultery to the look, past oaths to plain speech. Loving enemies is what makes children resemble their Father.
5 1Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain; when he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2And he opened his mouth and began to teach them, saying: a a v2 Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus draws his followers into the same closeness with the Father that he himself knows, speaking again and again of "your Father in heaven."
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of our Father. 4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. 7Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see our Father. 9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of our Father. 10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of our Father.
11"Blessed are you when people insult, persecute, and lie about every kind of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for they persecuted the prophets before you the same way.
You Are Salt and Light
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how can it be salted again? It's no longer good for anything but being thrown out and trampled by people.
14"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but sets it on a stand to light everyone in the house. 16Likewise, let your light shine before people, so they see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
The Son Fulfills the Law
17"Don't think I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets—I didn't come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you: until heaven and earth pass, not one letter, not one stroke, will pass from the Law until everything is done. 19So whoever breaks one of these least commands and teaches others the same will be called least in the kingdom of our Father; but whoever keeps and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of our Father. 20For I tell you, unless you are more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees, you'll never enter the kingdom of our Father.
Reconcile With Your Brother First
21"You've heard that it was said to those of old, 'Do not murder; whoever murders is subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you: whoever is angry with his brother risks judgment. Whoever insults his brother risks the council, and whoever says, 'You fool!' risks fiery hell.
23"So if you're offering your gift at the altar and recall there that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar, go make peace with your brother first, then come offer your gift. 25Make peace with your accuser quickly, while still on the way with him, or he may hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Purity Begins in the Heart
27"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28But I tell you: everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29If your right eye makes you stumble, tear it out and throw it away—better to lose one part of your body than have your whole body thrown into hell. 30If your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. Better to lose one part of you than have your whole body go into hell.
31"It was also said, 'Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.' 32I tell you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual sin, makes her a victim of adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Let Your Yes Mean Yes
33"Again, you've heard it was said to the ancients: 'Don't break your oath—fulfill it to our Father.' 34But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: neither by heaven, for it is our Father's throne, 35nor by the earth, for it's the footstool for his feet, nor by Jerusalem, for it's the city of the great King. 36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37Let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Go Beyond Eye for Eye
38"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.' 39But I tell you: don't resist an evil person. If someone slaps your right cheek, turn the other cheek to him too. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak too. 41And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to whoever asks you, and don't turn away whoever wants to borrow from you.
Love Your Enemies as He Does
43"You have heard that it was said, 'You will love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so you may become children of your Father in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on evil and good and sends rain on just and unjust. 46If you love those who love you, what reward is that? Don't even tax collectors do the same? 47If you greet only your brothers, what more do you do than others? Don't even the Gentiles do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
