Matthew 5:21-48

21“You have heard it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever commits murder shall be subject to judgment.’

22But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca’ shall be subject to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be subject to fiery Gehenna.

23“Therefore if you are presenting your offering upon the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24leave your offering there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

25“Make friends quickly with your opponent while you are with him on the way. Otherwise, your opponent may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the assistant, and you will be thrown into prison.

26Amen, I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid back the last penny!

27“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

28But I tell you that everyone who looks upon a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29And if your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away! It is better for you that one part of your body should be destroyed, than that your whole body be thrown into Gehenna.

30And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away! It is better for you that one part of your body should be destroyed, than that your whole body go into Gehenna.

31“It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

32But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall carry out your oaths to Adonai.’

34But I tell you, do not swear at all—not by heaven, for it is the throne of God;

35or by the earth, for it is the footstool of His feet; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

36And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

37But let your word ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’—anything more than this is from the evil one.”

38“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’

39But I tell you, do not resist an evildoer. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him also the other.

40And the one wanting to sue you and to take your shirt, let him also have your coat.

41Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.

42Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors do the same, don’t they?

47And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than anyone else? Even the pagans do that, don’t they?

48Therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”