A modern English translation drawn directly from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts. Translated word-for-word where possible, by a committee with scholarly oversight.
Uses the same source texts as the ESV, NASB, and most academic Bibles, including the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia and the Nestle-Aland critical edition.
Matthew 5
Matthew 5 is the fifth chapter of the first gospel and begins the longest single block of Jesus's teaching in any gospel: the Sermon on the Mount. The 48-verse chapter contains the Beatitudes and the start of Jesus's teaching on the law.
The chapter opens with Jesus going up on a mountainside, sitting down, and beginning to teach his disciples. The first nine sayings are the Beatitudes, each beginning with "Blessed are": the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those persecuted for righteousness, and those insulted for following Jesus. Each blessing names a corresponding promise.
Jesus then uses two famous metaphors for his followers. They are the salt of the earth; if salt loses its saltiness, it is no longer good for anything. They are the light of the world; a city on a hill cannot be hidden. Their light is to shine before others.
The chapter then turns to the law. Jesus declares that he has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. Not the smallest letter of the law will pass away until all is accomplished.
The rest of the chapter is a series of teachings that follow a pattern: "You have heard that it was said... But I tell you." Each time, Jesus intensifies the law rather than relaxing it. The command against murder includes anger and contempt. The command against adultery includes lust. Divorce is restricted. Oaths are forbidden in favor of plain speech. Retaliation is replaced with non-resistance: turn the other cheek, give to one who asks, go the second mile.
The chapter closes with the most demanding teaching of all: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, because God himself sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous alike. The closing line summarizes everything: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Verse 1. When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
Verse 2. and He began to teach them, saying:
Verse 3. “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 4. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Verse 5. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Verse 6. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Verse 7. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Verse 8. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Verse 9. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Verse 10. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 11. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
Verse 12. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
Verse 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.
Verse 14. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Verse 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.
Verse 16. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 20. For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Verse 21. You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
Verse 22. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Verse 23. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Verse 24. leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Verse 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.
Verse 26. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Verse 27. You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 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.
Verse 31. It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
Verse 32. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Verse 33. Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
Verse 34. But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
Verse 35. or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Verse 36. Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
Verse 37. Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
Verse 38. You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
Verse 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;
Verse 40. if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
Verse 41. and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Verse 42. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Verse 43. You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor’ and ‘Hate your enemy.’
Verse 44. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
Verse 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.
Verse 46. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
Verse 47. And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
Verse 48. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
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