Matthew 5:20-48

20“For I say to you that unless your 1righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21“2You have heard that 3the ancients were told, ‘4You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to 5the court.’ 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to 6the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘7You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to 89the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the 1011fiery hell. 23Therefore, if you are 12presenting your 13offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your 14offering there before the altar and go; first be 15reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your 16offering. 251718Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. 26Truly I say to you, 19you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last 20quadrans.

27“21You have heard that it was said, ‘22You shall not commit adultery’; 28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman 23with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29Now 24if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, 25than for your whole body to be thrown into 2627hell. 30And 28if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you 29to lose one of the parts of your body, 30than for your whole body to go into 3132hell.

31“Now it was said, ‘33Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; 3234but I say to you that everyone who 35divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a 36divorced woman commits adultery.

33“Again, 37you have heard that 38the ancients were told, ‘3940You shall not 41make false vows, but shall fulfill your 42vows to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, 43take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is 44the throne of God, 35nor by the earth, for it is the 45footstool of His feet, nor 46by Jerusalem, for it is 47the city of the great King. 36Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37But make sure your statement is, ‘48Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is 49of 50evil origin.

38“51You have heard that it was said, ‘52Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but 53whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your 54tunic, let him have your 55cloak also. 41Whoever 56forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 4257Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43“58You have heard that it was said, ‘59You shall love your neighbor 60and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, 61love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may prove yourselves to be 62sons 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 63if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48Therefore 64you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.