Study Desk

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,

and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes^(a)

He said:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^(b)

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.^(c)

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.^(d)

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.^(e)

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.^(f)

Blessed are the pure in heart,^(g) for they will see God.^(h)

Blessed are the peacemakers,⁽ⁱ⁾ for they will be called children of God.^(j)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,^(k) for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^(l)

"Blessed are you when people insult you,^(m) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.⁽ⁿ⁾

Rejoice and be glad,^(o) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(p)

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.^(q)

"You are the light of the world.^(r) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.^(s)

In the same way, let your light shine before others,^(t) that they may see your good deeds^(u) and glorify^(v) your Father in heaven.

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.^(w)

For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.^(x)

Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands^(y) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.^(z)

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,^[a](ab) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'

But I tell you that anyone who is angry^(ac) with a brother or sister^[b][c] will be subject to judgment.^(ad) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,'^[d] is answerable to the court.^(ae) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.^(af)

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

"You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.'^[e](ag)

But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.^(ah)

If your right eye causes you to stumble,^(ai) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

And if your right hand causes you to stumble,^(aj) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

"It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'^[f](ak)

But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.^(al)

"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,^(am) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.'^(an)

But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:^(ao) either by heaven, for it is God's throne;^(ap)

or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.^(aq)

And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes' or ‘No';^(ar) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.^[g](as)

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'^[h](at)

But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.^(au)

And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.^(av)

"You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[i](aw) and hate your enemy.'^(ax)

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^(ay)

that you may be children^(az) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.^(ba)

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?^(bb) Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(bc)

Giving to the Needy

"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them.^(a) If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.

"So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(b)

"And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing^(d) in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father,^(e) who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling^(f) like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.^(g)

Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need^(h) before you ask him.

"This, then, is how you should pray: "‘Our Father⁽ⁱ⁾ in heaven, hallowed be your name,

your kingdom^(j) come, your will be done,^(k) on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.^(l)

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.^(m)

And lead us not into temptation,^[a](n) but deliver us from the evil one.^[b]'^(o)

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.^(p)

But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.^(q)

"When you fast,^(r) do not look somber^(s) as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.

But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,

so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.^(t)

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,^(v) where moths and vermin destroy,^(w) and where thieves break in and steal.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven,^(x) where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.^(y)

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.^(z)

"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[c] your whole body will be full of light.

But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.^(aa)

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry^(ac) about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.^(ad) Are you not much more valuable than they?^(ae)

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?^(af)

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor^(ag) was dressed like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?^(ah)

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?' or ‘What shall we drink?' or ‘What shall we wear?'

For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.^(ai)

But seek first his kingdom^(aj) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.^(ak)

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.