The Sermon on the Mount

1Seeing the crowds, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2He opened his mouth and began to teach them, saying,

11“Blessed are y’all when people insult you*, persecute you*, and falsely say all kinds of evil against y’all, because of me. 12Y’all rejoice and be glad, for great is y’all’s reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before y’all.

Salt and Light

13“Y’all are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, how can it be made salty again? It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and trampled on by humans.

14Y’all are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead they put it on a stand, and it shines to all who are in the house. 16Likewise, let y’all’s light shine before all humans, so that they might see your* excellent works and glorify y’all’s Father who is in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law and Prophets

17“Y’all shouldn’t think that I came to abolish the law or the prophets. I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. 18For truly I tell y’all, until heaven and earth pass away, not even the smallest letter or pen stroke will pass away from the law, until everything is accomplished. 19Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches humans to do the same, will be called least in the Empire of Heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them will be called great in the Empire of Heaven. 20For I tell y’all that unless your* righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way y’all will enter into the Empire of Heaven.

Murder

21“You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You must not murder;’+Exo 20:13 and ‘Whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ 22But I tell y’all that everyone who is enraged with their sibling will be subject to judgment. Whoever calls their sibling, ‘You good-for-nothing!’+5:22 Literally, “Raca” an Aramaic insult, that indicates empty-headedness. will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

23“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your sibling has something against you, 24leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your sibling, and then come and offer your gift. 25Reach an agreement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him, or he will deliver you to the judge, and the judge you to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.+5:26 literally, kodrantes, a small copper coin, like a penny.

Adultery

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You must not commit adultery. ’+Exo 20:14 28But I tell y’all that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has committed adultery with her already in their heart. 29If 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 hell. 30If 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 hell.

Divorce

31“It was also said, ‘Whoever sends away his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce,’+Deut 24:1 32but I tell y’all that whoever divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oath Making

33“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You must not make false vows, but fulfill to the Lord [YHWH] your vows,’+Num 30:4 34but I tell y’all, don’t swear at all: either by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Do not swear by your head, because you can’t make even one hair white or black. 37But let y’all’s ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and y’all’s ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Anything beyond these is from the evil one.

Eye for an Eye

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’+Exo 21:21 39But I tell y’all, don’t resist an evil person. But if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek to them as well. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, let them have your cloak as well. 41Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with them two. 42Give to the one who asks you, and don’t turn away the one who desires to borrow from you.

Love for Enemies

43“Y’all have heard that it was said, ‘You are to love your neighbor+Lev 19:18 and hate your enemy.’ 44But I tell y’all, love your* enemies, bless those who curse y’all, do good to those who hate y’all, and pray for those who persecute y’all, 45that y’all may be children of your* Father who is in heaven. For ʜᴇ causes ʜɪs sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46For if y’all love those who love y’all, what reward do y’all have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47If y’all only greet your* siblings, what more do y’all do than others? Don’t even the ethnic groups do the same? 48Therefore y’all are to be perfect, just as y’all’s Father in heaven is perfect.