Matthew 5

Salt and Light Metaphors Matthew 5:13–16

¹³Verse 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. ¹⁴Verse 14. You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. ¹⁵Verse 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. ¹⁶Verse 16. Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Fulfillment of the Law Matthew 5:17–20

¹⁷Verse 17. “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill. ¹⁸Verse 18. For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. ¹⁹Verse 19. Whoever, therefore, 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. ²⁰Verse 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 Matthew 5:21–26

²¹Verse 21. “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²²Verse 22. But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. ²³Verse 23. “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, ²⁴Verse 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.

²⁵Verse 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. ²⁶Verse 26. Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery and Divorce Matthew 5:27–32

²⁷Verse 27. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ ²⁸Verse 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. ²⁹Verse 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. ³⁰Verse 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.

³¹Verse 31. “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ ³²Verse 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 Love for Enemies Matthew 5:33–47

³³Verse 33. “Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ ³⁴Verse 34. but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; ³⁵Verse 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. ³⁶Verse 36. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. ³⁷Verse 37. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.

³⁸Verse 38. “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ³⁹Verse 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. ⁴⁰Verse 40. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹Verse 41. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴²Verse 42. Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you. ⁴³Verse 43. “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

⁴⁴Verse 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, ⁴⁵Verse 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. ⁴⁶Verse 46. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷Verse 47. If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

Call to Perfection Matthew 5:48

⁴⁸Verse 48. Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.