OET-RV MAT Chapter 5

5 After seeing all the crowds, Yeshua climbed up a hill, and when he sat down, his apprentices approached him 2 and he taught them:

3 “Those who are poor in the spirit are blessed, because the kingdom of the heavens is theirs.

4 [ref]“Those who are mourning are blessed, because they will be comforted.

5 [ref]“Those who are gentle are blessed, because they will inherit the earth.

6 [ref]“Those who are hungry and thirsty to obey God are blessed, because they will be satisfied.

7 “Those who are merciful are blessed, because they will receive mercy.

8 [ref]“Those who have pure hearts are blessed, because they will see God.

9 “Those who are peacemakers are blessed, because they will be called children of God.

10 [ref]“Those who are persecuted for being godly are blessed, because the kingdom of heavens belongs to them.

11 [ref]“Everyone who is derided or chased or lied about is blessed, along with those who have evil things said about them just because they follow me. 12 [ref]Be happy and praising God because you’ll all have a wonderful reward in the heavens, because in the past they also persecuted the prophets like that.

13 [ref]“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt is made tasteless, what would you all use to salt your food? The salt wouldn’t be useful for anything anymore and would just get thrown out and trampled on by the people.

14 [ref]“You are the light of the world. A city up on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 [ref]No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket—you put it on a lampstand and it lightens up the house. 16 [ref]In the same way, let your light shine in front of everyone, so that they can see your good behaviour and then might praise your father in the heavens.

17 “Don’t imagine that I came to criticise the prophets or Moses’ law. I didn’t come to oppose the scriptures, but to fulfil them, 18 [ref]because I can assure you all that until heaven and earth reach their end, not one letter or mark will be taken away from the law until everything is fulfilled. 19 Therefore anyone who breaks even a minor commandment and teaches others to do the same, will be seen as one of the least in the kingdom of the heavens, but anyone who practices and teaches the law will be considered outstanding in the kingdom. 20 Let me tell all of you, unless you’re more godly than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees, there’s no way that you’ll get to enter the kingdom of the heavens.

21 [ref]“You all heard that your ancestors were told not to murder because any murderer will be sentenced. 22 But I’m telling you that anyone who gets angry at another will be liable for judgement, and anyone who calls another person a numbskull will have to face the court, and if you call them a fool, you’re liable for hellfire. 23 So if you’re there at the altar to offer your gift and remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your gift there at the altar and go and sort that out first, before coming back to offer your gift.

25 “Resolve things with your opponent as soon as you can, hopefully while you’re still on the way to the court, in case your opponent turns you in to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and then you’ll end up in prison. 26 I can assure you that you won’t get out of prison until the fine is completely paid.

27 [ref]“You all know that the scriptures say not to commit adultery, 28 but I’m telling you that if you look at a woman lustfully then you’ve already committed adultery in your mind. 29 [ref]If your right eye is causing you to stumble, then pluck it out and throw it away 30 [ref]

31 [ref]“It’s said that any man can divorce his wife just by sending her away. 32 [ref]But I’m telling you all that anyone who sends his wife away, except in the case where she’s committed sexual immorality, is causing her to commit adultery, and anyone who marries a wife that’s been sent away, is causing her to be committing adultery.

33 [ref]“Also you’ve heard that it was said to our ancestors that you shouldn’t break your oath, but you must do whatever you promised to the master. 34 [ref]But I’m telling you not to make oaths in the first place—don’t swear by heaven because it’s God’s throne, 35 [ref]nor by the earth because it’s God’s footrest, nor by Jerusalem because it’s the supreme king’s city. 36 And don’t swear by your own strength because you can’t even make one strand of hair grow a different colour. 37 Just say ‘yes’ when you commit to doing something, and ‘no’ when you don’t, because going beyond that is actually evil.

38 [ref]“You’ve all heard it said that it’s an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, 39 but I’m telling you not to resist those who want to hurt you. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn your left cheek towards them, 40 and to the person suing you in court and claiming your robe, let them have your coat as well. 41 And if someone forces you to walk a mile, walk two miles with them. 42 Give whatever others request from you and don’t turn away from anyone who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You’ve all heard it said it said that you should love your neighbour and hate your enemy, 44 but I’m telling you all to love your enemies and to pray for anyone who’s persecuting you, 45 so that all of you might become children of your father in the heavens, because he causes his sun to rise on both evil and good people and sends the rain for both godly and ungodly people. 46 If you all just love people who love you, what reward would you expect for that? Don’t the tax collectors even do that? 47 And if you’re only polite to your own circle, how is that achieving anything? Aren’t non-Jews just the same? 48 [ref]Instead you all should aim to be perfect just like your heavenly father is perfect.