Matthew 5:21-48
New American Standard Bible
Personal Relationships
21 “(A)You have heard that [a]the ancients were told, ‘(B)You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to (C)the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to (D)the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[b]You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to [c](E)the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the [d](F)fiery hell. 23 Therefore, if you are (G)presenting your [e]offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [f]offering there before the altar and go; first be (H)reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [g]offering. 25 (I)[h]Come 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. 26 Truly I say to you, (J)you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [i]quadrans.
27 “(K)You have heard that it was said, ‘(L)You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman (M)with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 Now (N)if 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, [j]than for your whole body to be thrown into [k](O)hell. 30 And (P)if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you [l]to lose one of the parts of your body, [m]than for your whole body to go into [n](Q)hell.
31 “Now it was said, ‘(R)Whoever sends his wife away is to give her a certificate of divorce’; 32 (S)but I say to you that everyone who [o]divorces his wife, except for the reason of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a [p]divorced woman commits adultery.
33 “Again, (T)you have heard that [q]the ancients were told, ‘[r](U)You shall not [s]make false vows, but shall fulfill your [t]vows to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (V)take no oath at all, neither by heaven, for it is (W)the throne of God, 35 nor by the earth, for it is the (X)footstool of His feet, nor [u]by Jerusalem, for it is (Y)the city of the great King. 36 Nor shall you take an oath by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black. 37 But make sure your statement is, ‘[v]Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no’; anything beyond these is [w]of (Z)evil origin.
38 “(AA)You have heard that it was said, ‘(AB)Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but (AC)whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your [x]tunic, let him have your [y]cloak also. 41 Whoever [z]forces you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 (AD)Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you.
43 “(AE)You have heard that it was said, ‘(AF)You shall love your neighbor (AG)and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, (AH)love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be (AI)sons 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. 46 For (AJ)if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48 Therefore (AK)you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 5:21 Lit it was said to the ancients
- Matthew 5:22 Or You empty-head; Gr Raka (Raca) from Aramaic reqa
- Matthew 5:22 Lit the Sanhedrin; i.e., Jewish High Court
- Matthew 5:22 Lit Gehenna of fire
- Matthew 5:23 Or gift
- Matthew 5:24 Or gift
- Matthew 5:24 Or gift
- Matthew 5:25 I.e., settle the case
- Matthew 5:26 A small Roman copper coin, worth about 1/64 of a laborer’s daily wage
- Matthew 5:29 Lit and that your whole body not be
- Matthew 5:29 Gr Gehenna
- Matthew 5:30 Lit that one...be lost
- Matthew 5:30 Lit and not your whole body
- Matthew 5:30 Gr Gehenna
- Matthew 5:32 Lit sends away, the Heb term for divorce
- Matthew 5:32 Lit woman sent away
- Matthew 5:33 Lit it was said to the ancients
- Matthew 5:33 you and your are singular here
- Matthew 5:33 Or break your vows
- Matthew 5:33 Lit oaths
- Matthew 5:35 Or toward
- Matthew 5:37 I.e., a clear “yes” or “no”
- Matthew 5:37 Or from the evil one
- Matthew 5:40 A long shirt worn next to the skin
- Matthew 5:40 Or outer garment
- Matthew 5:41 Lit will force
Matthew 5:21-48
New King James Version
Murder Begins in the Heart(A)
21 “You have heard that it was said to those [a]of old, (B)‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that (C)whoever is angry with his brother [b]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, (D)‘Raca!’[c] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [d]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [e]hell fire. 23 Therefore (E)if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 (F)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 (G)Agree with your adversary quickly, (H)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 [f]to those of old, (I)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever (J)looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 (K)If your right eye causes you to [g]sin, (L)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 [h]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(M)
31 “Furthermore it has been said, (N)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that (O)whoever divorces his wife for any reason except [i]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 (P)it was said to those of [j]old, (Q)‘You shall not swear falsely, but (R)shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 34 But I say to you, (S)do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is (T)God’s throne; 35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of (U)the great King. 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 (V)But let [k]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Go the Second Mile(W)
38 “You have heard that it was said, (X)‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 (Y)But I tell you not to resist an evil person. (Z)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 (AA)compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and (AB)from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Love Your Enemies(AC)
43 “You have heard that it was said, (AD)‘You shall love your neighbor (AE)and hate your enemy.’ 44 [l]But I say to you, (AF)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, (AG)do good to those who hate you, and pray (AH)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for (AI)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 (AJ)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 [m]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [n]tax collectors do so? 48 (AK)Therefore you shall be perfect, just (AL)as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 5:21 in ancient times
- Matthew 5:22 NU omits without a cause
- Matthew 5:22 Lit., in Aram., Empty head
- Matthew 5:22 Gr. More
- Matthew 5:22 Gr. Gehenna
- Matthew 5:27 NU, M omit to those of old
- Matthew 5:29 Lit. stumble or offend
- Matthew 5:30 Lit. stumble or offend
- Matthew 5:32 Or fornication
- Matthew 5:33 ancient times
- Matthew 5:37 Lit. your word be yes yes
- Matthew 5:44 NU But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
- Matthew 5:47 M friends
- Matthew 5:47 NU Gentiles
Matthew 5:21-48
King James Version
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
31 It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32 But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
33 Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34 But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
35 Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36 Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Read full chapterNew American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
