Matthew 5:18-48

18For truly I say to you, 1until heaven and earth pass away, not 2the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches 3others to do the same, shall be called least 4in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever 5keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20“For I say to you that unless your 6righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21“7You have heard that 8the ancients were told, ‘9You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be 10liable to 11the court.’ 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be 12guilty before 13the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘14You good-for-nothing,’ shall be 15guilty before 1617the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be 18guilty enough to go into the 1920fiery hell. 23Therefore if you are 21presenting your 22offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your 23offering there before the altar and go; first be 24reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your 25offering. 2526Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26Truly I say to you, 27you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last 28cent.

27“29You have heard that it was said, ‘30You shall not commit adultery’; 28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman 31with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 2932If your right eye makes you 33stumble, tear it out and throw it from you; for it is better for you 34to lose one of the parts of your body, 35than for your whole body to be thrown into 3637hell. 3038If your right hand makes you 39stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; for it is better for you 40to lose one of the parts of your body, 41than for your whole body to go into 4243hell.

31“It was said, ‘44Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce’; 3245but I say to you that everyone who 46divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a 47divorced woman commits adultery.

33“Again, 48you have heard that 49the ancients were told, ‘5051You shall not 52make false vows, but shall fulfill your 53vows to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, 54make no oath at all, either by heaven, for it is 55the throne of God, 35or by the earth, for it is the 56footstool of His feet, or 57by Jerusalem, for it is 58the city of the great King. 36Nor shall you make an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37But let your statement be, ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is 59of 60evil.

38“61You have heard that it was said, ‘62An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but 63whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40If anyone wants to sue you and take your 64shirt, let him have your 65coat also. 41Whoever 66forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 4267Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43“68You have heard that it was said, ‘69You shall love your neighbor 70and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, 71love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may 72be 73sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46For 74if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48Therefore 7576you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.