Matthew 5

1 When Jesus saw [perceived, took notice of] the crowds [great masses of people, multitudes], He went up [ascended, climbed] on the mountain [a high elevation, a place of solitude] and sat down [seated Himself, took a position of authority]. His disciples [learners, followers] came to Him [approached, drew near], word study 2 and He began [to start, to initiate] to teach [to instruct, to guide] them [opening his mouth, as in speaking], saying [to utter, to declare]: word study 3 “Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous] are the poor [those who recognize their spiritual need, humble] in spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition], for theirs [belonging to them, as their inheritance] is the kingdom [God’s royal power and dominion] of heaven [the sky and God’s home]. word study 4 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are those who mourn [are sad, grieve, feel sorrow], for they will be comforted [consoled, encouraged, given relief]. word study 5 Blessed [happy, supremely blissful] are the meek [gentle, humble], for they will inherit [receive as a gift] the earth [the land, soil, the entire globe]. word study 6 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are those who hunger [feel a strong need, crave] and thirst [have a deep desire, yearn] for righteousness [living according to God’s will, being in right relationship with Him], for they will be filled [satisfied, completely fulfilled]. word study 7 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are the merciful [showing compassion, having pity], for they will be shown [obtain, receive] mercy [kindness, forgiveness, divine compassion]. word study 8 Blessed [happy, supremely fortunate] are the pure [clean, morally upright] in heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions], for they will see [perceive, attend to] God [the one true deity, Creator of all]. word study 9 Blessed [happy, supremely blissful] are the peacemakers [those who bring harmony, make peace], for they will be called [invited, named as] sons [children, heirs] of God [the one true deity]. word study 10 Blessed [happy, supremely blissful] are those who are persecuted [attacked, suffer] because of [on account of, for the sake of] righteousness [living according to God’s will, being in right standing with Him], for theirs is [they will inherit, will possess] the kingdom [God’s royal power, dominion] of heaven [the sky, God’s home]. word study 11 Blessed [happy, supremely blissful] are you when people [men, humans] insult [revile, speak badly of] you, persecute [pursue, follow with hostile intent] you, and falsely [lying, saying what is not true] say all kinds [every type, all manner] of evil [bad, morally wrong] against you because of [on account of, for the sake of] Me [I, the Messiah]. word study 12 Rejoice [be glad, have joy] and be glad [exceedingly happy, full of joy], because great [abundant, exceedingly large] is your reward [wage, payment for faithfulness] in heaven [the spiritual realm, God’s dwelling place]; for in the same way [thus, in this manner] they persecuted [pursued, harassed] the prophets [messengers of God, speakers of His word] before [prior to, in front of] you. word study 13 You [as believers, followers of Christ] are the salt [preserving and seasoning agent] of the earth [the world, human society]. But if the salt loses its savor [flavor, spiritual effectiveness], how can it be made salty again [restored to its former purpose]? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out [rejected, discarded] and trampled by men [treated with contempt, disregarded]. word study 14 You [as followers of Christ] are the light [shining brightly, a source of spiritual illumination] of the world [all people, the earthly realm]. A city [a town with walls] on a hill [elevated, visible to all] cannot be hidden [concealed, kept secret]. word study 15 Neither do people light [kindle, burn] a lamp [a portable light source, symbolizing spiritual guidance] and put it under [beneath, in the shadow of] a basket [bucket, a unit of measurement]. Instead, they set it on a stand [lampstand, a holder for a lamp], and it gives [shines, radiates] light [spiritual illumination, understanding] to everyone [all, every person] in the house [home, a physical dwelling or a family]. word study 16 In the same way [thus, in this manner], let your light [the presence of God in you, shining brightly] shine before men [all people, everyone around you], that they may see your good deeds [beautiful works, righteous acts] and glorify [praise, honor, and worship] your Father [the heavenly Parent, God Almighty] in heaven [the spiritual realm, the throne of God]. word study 17 Do not think [suppose or assume] that I have come [arrived or been sent] to abolish [destroy or overthrow] the Law [the Mosaic law, God’s instructions] or the Prophets [messengers of God, speakers of His word]. I have not come [did not arrive] to abolish [tear down or reject] them, but to fulfill [complete or bring to realization] them. word study 18 For I tell you truly [with absolute certainty, in all sincerity], until heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place] and earth [the soil, the physical world] pass away, not a single jot [iota, the smallest Greek letter], not a stroke of a pen [tittle, a small part of a Hebrew letter], will disappear from the Law [the Mosaic law, God’s instructions] until everything [all things, the entire plan] is accomplished [fulfilled, completed]. word study 19 So then, whoever breaks [disregards, loosens] one of the least [smallest, least important] of these commandments [divine instructions, God’s laws] and teaches [instructs, guides] others to do likewise [in the same way, thusly] will be called [named, regarded as] least [smallest, of little importance] in the kingdom [royal power, dominion] of heaven [the sky, God’s home]; but whoever practices [obeys, follows] and teaches [instructs, guides] them will be called [named, regarded as] great [magnificent, of high importance] in the kingdom [royal power, dominion] of heaven [the sky, God’s home]. word study 20 For I tell you that unless your [moral rightness, living according to God’s will] righteousness [exceeding the standards of men, a state of being in right relationship with God] exceeds [surpasses, is more than] that of the [Jewish scholars, teachers of the law] scribes and [strict adherents to Jewish traditions] Pharisees, you will never [under any circumstances, not at all] enter [go into, become a part of] the kingdom [God’s royal power and dominion, the realm of heaven] of heaven [the spiritual realm, the dwelling place of God]. word study 21 You have heard [previously understood, been taught] that it was said [spoken, commanded] to the ancients [those of old time, the forefathers], ‘Do not [absolutely not, under no circumstances] murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders [commits murder, takes a life] will be [is liable to be, shall be] subject to [under the authority of, in danger of] judgment [divine verdict, condemnation].’ word study 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry [without a cause, unjustly] with his brother [a fellow Christian, a male sibling] will be subject to [in danger of, liable for] judgment [divine verdict, God’s decision]. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to [in danger of, liable for] the Sanhedrin [the Jewish council, a governing body]. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to [in danger of, liable for] the fire of [Gehenna, a place of eternal punishment] hell. word study 23 So if [in the event that, if it happens that] you are offering [presenting, bringing to] your gift [sacrifice, offering to God] at the altar [place of sacrifice, table of worship] and there [in that place, at that moment] remember [recall to mind, think of] that your brother [fellow believer, sibling in faith] has something [a grievance, an issue] against you [toward you, with you], word study 24 leave your gift [offering, sacrifice] there before the altar [place of sacrifice, table of worship]. First go and be reconciled [make peace, restore relationship] to your brother [fellow believer, neighbor]; then come and offer your gift [present, act of worship]. word study 25 Reconcile [agree, come to terms with] quickly [without delay, promptly] with your adversary [opponent, one who opposes], while you are still on the way [journey, path] to court [a place of judgment, tribunal]. Otherwise [lest, if not], he may hand you over to the judge [one who decides, arbitrator], and the judge may hand you over to the officer [servant, minister], and you may be thrown [cast, tossed] into prison [a place of confinement, jail]. word study 26 Truly [verily, with utmost certainty] I tell you, you will not get out [come out, be released] until you have paid [repay, give back] the last [uttermost, extreme] penny [farthing, a small amount of money]. word study 27 You have heard [to perceive and understand, to listen] that it was said [spoken, uttered, by them of old time], ‘Do not [completely, utterly] commit adultery [have an affair, cheat on one’s spouse, be unfaithful].’ word study 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks [gazes, to see with desire] at a woman [a female, a wife] to lust [to long for, to desire] after her has already [even now, at this moment] committed adultery [been unfaithful, had an affair] with her in his heart [the seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions, the mind]. word study 29 If your right [physical or spiritual] eye causes you to sin [stumble, offend], gouge it out [pluck it out, tear it away] and throw it away [cast it from you]. It is better [more profitable, advantageous] for you to lose one part [member] of your body than for your whole body [entire being] to be thrown into hell [Gehenna, a place of eternal punishment]. word study 30 And if your right [dominant, most skilled] hand causes you to sin [stumble, offend], cut it off [sever it completely, remove it] and throw it away [discard it, reject it]. It is better for you to lose one part [member, limb] of your body than for your whole body [entire being, physical and spiritual] to depart into hell [Gehenna, a place of eternal punishment]. word study 31 It has also been said [previously stated, written], ‘Whoever divorces [releases, sets free] his wife [woman, spouse] must give [bestow, grant] her a certificate [writing, document] of divorce [separation, divorce papers].’ word study 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces [puts away, releases] his wife, except [unless, besides] for sexual immorality [immoral sexual behavior], brings [causes, leads to] adultery [unfaithfulness] upon her. And he who marries [takes as his wife, weds] a divorced [released, put away] woman commits [is guilty of, engages in] adultery [unlawful sexual relations]. word study 33 Again [once more, as previously stated], you have heard [listened and understood] that it was said [spoken, commanded] to the ancients [those of old time, the forefathers], ‘Do not [never, under no circumstances] break your oath [forswear yourself, perjure yourself], but fulfill [carry out, pay] your vows [sacred promises, oaths] to the Lord [the Supreme Ruler, God].’ word study 34 But I tell you [as a command, a divine instruction] not to swear [take an oath, make a promise] at all [completely, in any way]: either by heaven [the sky, God’s dwelling place], for it is [exists as, is known as] God’s [the Almighty, Creator] throne [seat of power, authority]; word study 35 or by the earth [the ground, soil, or the world], for it is His footstool [a rest for His feet, a symbol of dominion]; or by Jerusalem [the city of God, the great King’s capital], for it is the city [a metropolis, a center of government] of the great [mighty, powerful, majestic] King. word study 36 Nor should you swear [take an oath, make a promise] by your head [the upper part of the body], for you cannot [are not able, do not have the power] make [change, alter] a single [one, unique] hair [a growth on the head, a small part of the body] white [pure, clean] or [as an alternative] black [dark, gloomy]. word study 37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ [affirmative, verily] be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything [whatsoever is more than these] more comes from the [originating with, out from] evil one [the wicked, morally bad]. word study 38 You have heard [been taught, learned] that it was said [spoken, uttered], ‘Eye [vision or sight] for [in place of, instead of] eye and tooth [a single tooth] for tooth.’ word study 39 But I tell you [do not retaliate, resist not] not to resist [stand against, oppose] an evil [morally wrong, wicked] person [individual, one who does harm]. If someone [whoever, any person] slaps [strikes, hits] you on your right [the right side, the favored side] cheek [the side of the face, jawbone], turn [change direction, offer] to him [toward them, in their direction] the other [the opposite, another] also [too, in addition]; word study 40 if someone wants [desires to] to sue you [take you to court, bring you to judgment] and take your tunic [shirt, inner garment], let him have your cloak [outer garment, clothing] as well; word study 41 and if someone [whoever, anyone] forces [compels, impresses] you to go [to depart, to walk] one [a single] mile [a unit of distance, 1000 paces], go [accompany, follow] with him [in his company, together] two [a pair, dual] miles [a longer distance, further]. word study 42 Give [freely bestow, generously provide] to the one who asks [requests, petitions] you, and do not turn away [reject, refuse] from the one who wants [desires, wishes] to borrow [receive a loan, take temporarily] from you [as a neighbor, in need]. word study 43 You have heard [been taught, learned] that it was said [spoken, commanded], ‘Love [show esteem and goodwill towards] your neighbor’ and [also, in addition] ‘Hate [detest, love less] your enemy [one who is hostile, opposed to you].’ word study 44 But I tell you [to you directly, as a command], love [showing esteem and goodwill towards] your enemies [those who are hostile or hateful towards you] and pray [to worship and ask for their well-being] for those who persecute [mistreat or pursue] you [with hostile intent], word study 45 that you may be [children, sons and daughters] sons of your Father [the supreme Creator and Ruler] in heaven [the spiritual realm, the dwelling place of God]. He causes His sun [the source of light and life] to rise on the evil [those who are morally wrong, wicked] and the good [those who are righteous, virtuous], and sends rain [a blessing, a provision] on the righteous [those who are just, fair] and the unrighteous [those who are unjust, sinful]. word study 46 If you love [show esteem and goodwill towards] those who love [have affection for] you, what reward [wage or payment for your actions] will you get? Do not even [not at all] tax collectors [those who gather public revenue, often seen as outcasts] do the same [act in a similar manner]? word study 47 And if you greet [salute, pay respects to] only your brothers [brethren, fellow believers], what are you doing [accomplishing, achieving] more than others [than the Gentiles, than those outside your faith]? Do not even [not even the most sinful, not even the outcasts] Gentiles [non-Jews, those who do not follow God] do the same [act in a similar way, show kindness to their own]? word study 48 Be [completely trustworthy, fully grown] perfect, therefore [as a consequence of your faith], as your heavenly [divine] Father [the ultimate source of love and perfection] is [exists as, characterized by being] perfect [complete, mature, having all virtues]. word study