10How blest are those who have suffered persecution for the cause of right;
the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
13'You are salt to the world. And if salt becomes tasteless, how is its saltness to be restored? It is now good for nothing but to be thrown away and trodden underfoot.
14'You are light for all the world. A town that stands on a hill cannot be hidden. 15When a lamp is lit, it is not put under the meal-tub, but on the lamp-stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. 16And you, like the lamp, must shed light among your fellows, so that, when they see the good you do, they may give praise to your Father in heaven.
17'DO NOT SUPPOSE that I have come to abolish the Law and the prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to complete. 18I tell you this: so long as heaven and earth endure, not a letter, not a stroke, will disappear from the Law until all that must happen has happened. 19If any man therefore sets aside even the least of the Law's demands, and teaches others to do the same, he will have the lowest place in the kingdom of Heaven, whereas anyone who keeps the Law and teaches others so will stand high in the kingdom of Heaven. 20I tell you, unless you show yourselves far better men than the Pharisees and the doctors of the law, you can never enter the kingdom of Heaven.
21'You have learned that our forefathers were told, "Do not commit murder; anyone who commits murder must be brought to judgement." 22But what I tell you is this: Anyone who nurses anger against his brother must be brought to judgement. If he abuses his brother he must answer for it to the court; if he sneers at him he will have to answer for it in the fires of hell.
23'If, when you are bringing your gift to the altar, you suddenly remember that your brother has a grievance against you, 24leave your gift where it is before the altar. First go and make your peace with your brother, and only then come back and offer your gift.
25'If someone sues you, come to terms with him promptly while you are both on your way to court; otherwise he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the constable, and you will be put in jail. 26I tell you, once you are there you will not be let out till you have paid the last farthing.
27'You have learned that they were told, "Do not commit adultery." 28But what I tell you is this: If a man looks on a woman with a lustful eye he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29'If your right eye leads you astray, tear it out and fling it away; it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole of it to be thrown into hell. 30And if your right hand is your undoing, cut it off and fling it away; it is better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole of it to go to hell.
31'They were told, "A man who divorces his wife must give her a note of dismissal." 32But what I tell you is this: If a man divorces his wife for any cause other than unchastity he involves her in adultery; and anyone who marries a woman so divorced commits adultery.
33'Again, you have learned that they were told, "Do not break your oath", and, "Oaths sworn to the Lord must be kept." 34 [ Is.66.1. ] But what I tell you is this: You are not to swear at all—not by heaven, for it is God's throne, 35nor by earth, for it is his footstool, nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King, 36nor by your own head, because you cannot turn one hair of it white or black. 37Plain "Yes" or "No" is all you need to say; anything beyond that comes from the devil.
38'You have learned that they were told, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." 39But what I tell you is this: Do not set yourself against the man who wrongs you. If someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn and offer him your left. 40If a man wants to sue you for your shirt, let him have your coat as well. 41If a man in authority makes you go one mile, go with him two. 42Give when you are asked to give; and do not turn your back on a man who wants to borrow.
43'You have learned that they were told, "Love your neighbour, hate your enemy." 44But what I tell you is this: Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors; 45only so can you be children of your heavenly Father, who makes his sun rise on good and bad alike, and sends the rain on the honest and the dishonest. 46If you love only those who love you, what reward can you expect? Surely the tax-gatherers do as much as that. 47And if you greet only your brothers, what is there extraordinary about that? Even the heathen do as much. 48You must therefore be all goodness, just as your heavenly Father is all good.
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