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Matthew 5
New King James Version

### The Beatitudes(A)

5 And seeing the multitudes, (B)He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and (C)taught them, saying:

3 “Blessed(D) are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 (E)Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 (F)Blessed are the meek,
For (G)they shall inherit the [a]earth.
6 Blessed are those who (H)hunger and thirst for righteousness,
(I)For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
(J)For they shall obtain mercy.
8 (K)Blessed are the pure in heart,
For (L)they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 (M)Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 (N)Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of (O)evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 (P)Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for (Q)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

### Believers Are Salt and Light(R)

13 “You are the salt of the earth; (S)but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 (T)“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they (U)light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, (V)that they may see your good works and (W)glorify your Father in heaven.

### Christ Fulfills the Law

17 (X)“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, (Y)till heaven and earth pass away, one [b]jot or one [c]tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 (Z)Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds (AA)the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

### Murder Begins in the Heart(AB)

21 “You have heard that it was said to those [d]of old, (AC)‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that (AD)whoever is angry with his brother [e]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, (AE)‘Raca!’[f] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [g]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [h]hell fire. 23 Therefore (AF)if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 (AG)leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 (AH)Agree with your adversary quickly, (AI)while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

### Adultery in the Heart

27 “You have heard that it was said [i]to those of old, (AJ)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever (AK)looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 (AL)If your right eye causes you to [j]sin, (AM)pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to [k]sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

### Marriage Is Sacred and Binding(AN)

31 “Furthermore it has been said, (AO)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that (AP)whoever divorces his wife for any reason except [l]sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

### Jesus Forbids Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that (AQ)it was said to those of [m]old, (AR)‘You shall not swear falsely, but (AS)shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (AT)do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is (AU)God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of (AV)the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 (AW)But let [n]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

### Go the Second Mile(AX)

38 “You have heard that it was said, (AY)‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 (AZ)But I tell you not to resist an evil person. (BA)But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. 41 And whoever (BB)compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and (BC)from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

### Love Your Enemies(BD)

43 “You have heard that it was said, (BE)‘You shall love your neighbor (BF)and hate your enemy.’ 44 [o]But I say to you, (BG)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, (BH)do good to those who hate you, and pray (BI)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for (BJ)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 (BK)For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet your [p]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [q]tax collectors do so? 48 (BL)Therefore you shall be perfect, just (BM)as your Father in heaven is perfect.

#### Footnotes

1. Matthew 5:5 Or land
2. Matthew 5:18 Gr. iota, Heb. yod, the smallest letter
3. Matthew 5:18 The smallest stroke in a Heb. letter
4. Matthew 5:21 in ancient times
5. Matthew 5:22 NU omits without a cause
6. Matthew 5:22 Lit., in Aram., Empty head
7. Matthew 5:22 Gr. More
8. Matthew 5:22 Gr. Gehenna
9. Matthew 5:27 NU, M omit to those of old
10. Matthew 5:29 Lit. stumble or offend
11. Matthew 5:30 Lit. stumble or offend
12. Matthew 5:32 Or fornication
13. Matthew 5:33 ancient times
14. Matthew 5:37 Lit. your word be yes yes
15. Matthew 5:44 NU But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
16. Matthew 5:47 M friends
17. Matthew 5:47 NU Gentiles

#### Cross references

1. Matthew 5:1 : Luke 6:20–26
2. Matthew 5:1 : Matt. 14:23; 15:29; 17:1; Mark 3:13; Luke 6:17; 9:28; John 6:3, 15
3. Matthew 5:2 : [Matt. 7:29]; Mark 10:1; 12:35; John 8:2
4. Matthew 5:3 : Prov. 16:19; Is. 66:2; Luke 6:20–23
5. Matthew 5:4 : Is. 61:2, 3; Luke 6:21; [John 16:20]; Acts 16:34; [2 Cor. 1:7]; Rev. 21:4
6. Matthew 5:5 : Ps. 37:11; Is. 29:19
7. Matthew 5:5 : [Rom. 4:13]
8. Matthew 5:6 : Luke 1:53; Acts 2:4
9. Matthew 5:6 : [Is. 55:1; 65:13; John 4:14; 6:48; 7:37]
10. Matthew 5:7 : Ps. 41:1; Mark 11:25
11. Matthew 5:8 : Ps. 15:2; 24:4; Heb. 12:14
12. Matthew 5:8 : Acts 7:55, 56; 1 Cor. 13:12
13. Matthew 5:10 : [2 Cor. 4:17]; 1 Pet. 3:14
14. Matthew 5:11 : Luke 6:22
15. Matthew 5:11 : 1 Pet. 4:14
16. Matthew 5:12 : Luke 6:23; Acts 5:41; 1 Pet. 4:13, 14
17. Matthew 5:12 : 2 Chr. 36:16; Neh. 9:26; Matt. 23:37; Acts 7:52; 1 Thess. 2:15; Heb. 11:35–37; James 5:10
18. Matthew 5:13 : Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34, 35
19. Matthew 5:13 : Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34
20. Matthew 5:14 : [Prov. 4:18; John 8:12]; Phil. 2:15
21. Matthew 5:15 : Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Phil. 2:15
22. Matthew 5:16 : 1 Pet. 2:12
23. Matthew 5:16 : [John 15:8]; 1 Cor. 14:25
24. Matthew 5:17 : Rom. 10:4
25. Matthew 5:18 : Matt. 24:35; Luke 16:17
26. Matthew 5:19 : [James 2:10]
27. Matthew 5:20 : [Rom. 10:3]
28. Matthew 5:21 : Luke 12:57–59
29. Matthew 5:21 : Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
30. Matthew 5:22 : [1 John 3:15]
31. Matthew 5:22 : [James 2:20; 3:6]
32. Matthew 5:23 : Matt. 8:4
33. Matthew 5:24 : [Job 42:8; 1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:7]
34. Matthew 5:25 : [Prov. 25:8]; Luke 12:58, 59
35. Matthew 5:25 : [Ps. 32:6; Is. 55:6]
36. Matthew 5:27 : Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18
37. Matthew 5:28 : 2 Sam. 11:2–5; Job 31:1; Prov. 6:25; [Matt. 15:19; James 1:14, 15]
38. Matthew 5:29 : Mark 9:43
39. Matthew 5:29 : [Col. 3:5]
40. Matthew 5:31 : Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11, 12; Luke 16:18
41. Matthew 5:31 : Deut. 24:1; [Jer. 3:1]; Mark 10:2
42. Matthew 5:32 : [Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:3]; 1 Cor. 7:11
43. Matthew 5:33 : Matt. 23:16
44. Matthew 5:33 : [Ex. 20:7]; Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2
45. Matthew 5:33 : Deut. 23:23
46. Matthew 5:34 : Matt. 23:16; James 5:12
47. Matthew 5:34 : Is. 66:1
48. Matthew 5:35 : Ps. 48:2; [Matt. 5:2, 19; 6:10]
49. Matthew 5:37 : [Col. 4:6]; James 5:12
50. Matthew 5:38 : Luke 6:29–31
51. Matthew 5:38 : Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
52. Matthew 5:39 : [Prov. 20:22]; Luke 6:29; [Rom. 12:17; 1 Cor. 6:7; 1 Pet. 3:9]
53. Matthew 5:39 : Is. 50:6; Lam. 3:30
54. Matthew 5:41 : Matt. 27:32
55. Matthew 5:42 : Deut. 15:7–11; Luke 6:30–34; 1 Tim. 6:18
56. Matthew 5:43 : Luke 6:27, 28, 32–36
57. Matthew 5:43 : Lev. 19:18
58. Matthew 5:43 : Deut. 23:3–6; Ps. 41:10
59. Matthew 5:44 : Luke 6:27; Rom. 12:14
60. Matthew 5:44 : [Rom. 12:20]
61. Matthew 5:44 : Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:23
62. Matthew 5:45 : Job 25:3; Ps. 65:9–13; Luke 12:16, 17; Acts 14:17
63. Matthew 5:46 : Luke 6:32
64. Matthew 5:48 : Gen. 17:1; Lev. 11:44; 19:2; Luke 6:36; [Col. 1:28; 4:12]; James 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:15
65. Matthew 5:48 : Eph. 5:1

New King James Version (NKJV)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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