Matthew 5:21-48

21“1You have heard that 2the ancients were told, ‘3You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to 4the court.’ 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to 5the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘6You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to 78the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the 910fiery hell. 23Therefore, if you are 11presenting your 12offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your 13offering there before the altar and go; first be 14reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your 15offering. 251617Come 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, 18you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last 19quadrans.

27“20You have heard that it was said, ‘21You shall not commit adultery’; 28but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman 22with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29Now 23if 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, 24than for your whole body to be thrown into 2526hell. 30And 27if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you 28to lose one of the parts of your body, 29than for your whole body to go into 3031hell.

31“Now it was said, ‘32Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; 3233but I say to you that everyone who 34divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a 35divorced woman commits adultery.

33“Again, 36you have heard that 37the ancients were told, ‘3839You shall not 40make false vows, but shall fulfill your 41vows to the Lord.’ 34But I say to you, 42take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is 43the throne of God, 35nor by the earth, for it is the 44footstool of His feet, nor 45by Jerusalem, for it is 46the 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, ‘47Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is 48of 49evil origin.

38“50You have heard that it was said, ‘51Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but 52whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. 40And if anyone wants to sue you and take your 53tunic, let him have your 54cloak also. 41Whoever 55forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 4256Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.

43“57You have heard that it was said, ‘58You shall love your neighbor 59and hate your enemy.’ 44But I say to you, 60love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45so that you may prove yourselves to be 61sons 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 62if 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 63you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.