Add parallel Print Page Options

The Sermon on the Mount

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.[a]

Blessings

(Luke 6.20-23)

Jesus' disciples gathered around him, and he taught them:

God blesses those people
    who depend only on him.
They belong to the kingdom
    of heaven![b]
(A) God blesses those people
who grieve.
    They will find comfort!
(B) God blesses those people
    who are humble.
The earth will belong
    to them!
(C) God blesses those people
who want to obey him[c]
    more than to eat or drink.
They will be given
    what they want!
God blesses those people
    who are merciful.
They will be treated
    with mercy!
(D) God blesses those people
whose hearts are pure.
    They will see him!
God blesses those people
    who make peace.
They will be called
    his children!
10 (E) God blesses those people
who are treated badly
    for doing right.
They belong to the kingdom
    of heaven.[d]

11 (F) God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12 (G) Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.

Salt and Light

(Mark 9.50; Luke 14.34,35)

13 (H) You are the salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.

14 (I) You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, 15 (J) and no one lights a lamp and puts it under a clay pot. Instead, it is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. 16 (K) Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven.

The Law of Moses

17 Don't suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets.[e] I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. 18 (L) Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen.

19 If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom. 20 You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.

Anger

21 (M) You know our ancestors were told, “Do not murder” and “A murderer must be brought to trial.” 22 But I promise you if you are angry with someone,[f] you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.

23 So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.

25 Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don't, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail. 26 I promise you will not get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 5.1 sat down: Teachers in the ancient world, including Jewish teachers, usually sat down when they taught.
  2. 5.3 They belong to the kingdom of heaven: Or “The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”
  3. 5.6 who want to obey him: Or “who want to do right” or “who want everyone to be treated right.”
  4. 5.10 They belong to the kingdom of heaven: See the note at 5.3.
  5. 5.17 the Law and the Prophets: The Jewish Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament.
  6. 5.22 someone: In verses 22-24 the Greek text has “brother,” which may refer to people in general or to other followers.

Bible Gateway Recommends