| Chapter text (World English Bible version) |  |
| 1 Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 He opened his mouth and taught them, saying, | What did Jesus do when he saw the crowds? |
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. * 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. ** 5 Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.+* 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. * quotation from Isaiah 57 v 15 and 66 v 2 ** quotation from Isaiah 61 v 2 and 66 v 10 and 13 +* quotation from Psalm 37 v 11 | What blessings does Jesus promise to different kinds of people? |
11 “Blessed are you when people reproach you, persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you. | How should believers respond when they are insulted or persecuted because of Jesus? |
| 13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavour, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men. | What does Jesus call his followers, and how should they let their light shine? |
14 “You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden. 15 Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house. 16 Even so, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. | What did Jesus say about the Law and the Prophets, and what kind of righteousness is required? |
17 “Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter‡ or one tiny pen stroke§ shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. | What did Jesus say about the Law and the Prophets, and what kind of righteousness is required? |
21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’* and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgement.’ 22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgement. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ ‡ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.§ * quotation from Exodus 20 v 13 ‡ “Raca” is an Aramaic insult, related to the word for “empty” and conveying the idea of empty-headedness. § Gehenna (a transliteration of the Hebrew "Ge Hinnom") refers to a valley south-west of Jerusalem that was a site of child sacrifice to the pagan god Moloch. | How did Jesus expand the command against murder? |
23 “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, 24 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 Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. 26 Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny. + + the smallest Roman coin in the time of Jesus | What should someone do if they remember a broken relationship while offering a gift at the altar? |
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ * 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. ** 30 If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. ** * quotation from Exodus 20 v 14 ** see note on v 22 | How did Jesus expand the command against adultery? |
31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ * 32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. * quotation from Deuteronomy 24 v 1 | What did Jesus teach about divorce? |
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,’ * 34 but I tell you, don’t swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; 35 nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. * quotation from Numbers 30 v 2, Deuteronomy 23 v 21 Ecclesiastes 5 v 4 | What did Jesus teach about making oaths? |
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ * 39 But I tell you, don’t resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. 41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. 42 Give to him who asks you, and don’t turn away him who desires to borrow from you. * quotation from Exodus 21 v 24, Leviticus 24 v 20, Deuteronomy 19 v 21 | How did Jesus teach his followers to respond to wrongs done to them? |
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbour * and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. * quotation from Leviticus 19 v 18 | How did Jesus teach his followers to treat their enemies, and whose example should they follow? |
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