Matthew 5 - New King James Version (NKJV)

The Beatitudes^(A)

5 And seeing the multitudes, ^(B)He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ² Then He opened His mouth and ^(C)taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed^(D) are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
^{4 (E)}Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
^{5 (F)}Blessed are the meek,
For ^(G)they shall inherit the ^[a]earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who ^(H)hunger and thirst for righteousness,
^(I)For they shall be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
^(J)For they shall obtain mercy.
^{8 (K)}Blessed are the pure in heart,
For ^(L)they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
^{10 (M)}Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

^{11 (N)}Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of ^(O)evil against you falsely for My sake. ^{12 (P)}Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for ^(Q)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Believers Are Salt and Light^(R)

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth; ^(S)but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

^{14 (T)}“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do they ^(U)light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, ^(V)that they may see your good works and ^(W)glorify your Father in heaven.

Christ Fulfills the Law

^{17 (X)}“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For assuredly, I say to you, ^(Y)till heaven and earth pass away, one ^[b]jot or one ^[c]tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. ^{19 (Z)}Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds ^(AA)the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder Begins in the Heart^(AB)

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those ^[d]of old, ^(AC)‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ²² But I say to you that ^(AD)whoever is angry with his brother ^[e]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ^(AE)‘Raca!’^[f] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ^[g]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of ^[h]hell fire. ²³ Therefore ^(AF)if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, ^{24 (AG)}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 (AH)}Agree with your adversary quickly, ^(AI)while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Adultery in the Heart

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said ^[i]to those of old, ^(AJ)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I say to you that whoever ^(AK)looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ^{29 (AL)}If your right eye causes you to ^[j]sin, ^(AM)pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to ^[k]sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Marriage Is Sacred and Binding^(AN)

³¹ “Furthermore it has been said, ^(AO)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ ³² But I say to you that ^(AP)whoever divorces his wife for any reason except ^[l]sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Jesus Forbids Oaths

³³ “Again you have heard that ^(AQ)it was said to those of ^[m]old, ^(AR)‘You shall not swear falsely, but ^(AS)shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I say to you, ^(AT)do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is ^(AU)God’s throne; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of ^(AV)the great King. ³⁶ Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. ^{37 (AW)}But let ^[n]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Go the Second Mile^(AX)

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ^(AY)‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ ^{39 (AZ)}But I tell you not to resist an evil person. ^(BA)But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever ^(BB)compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks you, and ^(BC)from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Love Your Enemies^(BD)

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ^(BE)‘You shall love your neighbor ^(BF)and hate your enemy.’ ^{44 [o]}But I say to you, ^(BG)love your enemies, bless those who curse you, ^(BH)do good to those who hate you, and pray ^(BI)for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for ^(BJ)He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ^{46 (BK)}For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your ^[p]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the ^[q]tax collectors do so? ^{48 (BL)}Therefore you shall be perfect, just ^(BM)as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Footnotes

1. Matthew 5:5 Or land
2. Matthew 5:18 Gr. iota, Heb. yod, the smallest letter
3. Matthew 5:18 The smallest stroke in a Heb. letter
4. Matthew 5:21 in ancient times
5. Matthew 5:22 NU omits without a cause
6. Matthew 5:22 Lit., in Aram., Empty head
7. Matthew 5:22 Gr. More
8. Matthew 5:22 Gr. Gehenna
9. Matthew 5:27 NU, M omit to those of old
10. Matthew 5:29 Lit. stumble or offend
11. Matthew 5:30 Lit. stumble or offend
12. Matthew 5:32 Or fornication
13. Matthew 5:33 ancient times
14. Matthew 5:37 Lit. your word be yes yes
15. Matthew 5:44 NU But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you
16. Matthew 5:47 M friends
17. Matthew 5:47 NU Gentiles

Cross references

1. Matthew 5:1 : Luke 6:20–26
2. Matthew 5:1 : Matt. 14:23; 15:29; 17:1; Mark 3:13; Luke 6:17; 9:28; John 6:3, 15
3. Matthew 5:2 : [Matt. 7:29]; Mark 10:1; 12:35; John 8:2
4. Matthew 5:3 : Prov. 16:19; Is. 66:2; Luke 6:20–23
5. Matthew 5:4 : Is. 61:2, 3; Luke 6:21; [John 16:20]; Acts 16:34; [2 Cor. 1:7]; Rev. 21:4
6. Matthew 5:5 : Ps. 37:11; Is. 29:19
7. Matthew 5:5 : [Rom. 4:13]
8. Matthew 5:6 : Luke 1:53; Acts 2:4
9. Matthew 5:6 : [Is. 55:1; 65:13; John 4:14; 6:48; 7:37]
10. Matthew 5:7 : Ps. 41:1; Mark 11:25
11. Matthew 5:8 : Ps. 15:2; 24:4; Heb. 12:14
12. Matthew 5:8 : Acts 7:55, 56; 1 Cor. 13:12
13. Matthew 5:10 : [2 Cor. 4:17]; 1 Pet. 3:14
14. Matthew 5:11 : Luke 6:22
15. Matthew 5:11 : 1 Pet. 4:14
16. Matthew 5:12 : Luke 6:23; Acts 5:41; 1 Pet. 4:13, 14
17. Matthew 5:12 : 2 Chr. 36:16; Neh. 9:26; Matt. 23:37; Acts 7:52; 1 Thess. 2:15; Heb. 11:35–37; James 5:10
18. Matthew 5:13 : Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34, 35
19. Matthew 5:13 : Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34
20. Matthew 5:14 : [Prov. 4:18; John 8:12]; Phil. 2:15
21. Matthew 5:15 : Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Phil. 2:15
22. Matthew 5:16 : 1 Pet. 2:12
23. Matthew 5:16 : [John 15:8]; 1 Cor. 14:25
24. Matthew 5:17 : Rom. 10:4
25. Matthew 5:18 : Matt. 24:35; Luke 16:17
26. Matthew 5:19 : [James 2:10]
27. Matthew 5:20 : [Rom. 10:3]
28. Matthew 5:21 : Luke 12:57–59
29. Matthew 5:21 : Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17
30. Matthew 5:22 : [1 John 3:15]
31. Matthew 5:22 : [James 2:20; 3:6]
32. Matthew 5:23 : Matt. 8:4
33. Matthew 5:24 : [Job 42:8; 1 Tim. 2:8; 1 Pet. 3:7]
34. Matthew 5:25 : [Prov. 25:8]; Luke 12:58, 59
35. Matthew 5:25 : [Ps. 32:6; Is. 55:6]
36. Matthew 5:27 : Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18
37. Matthew 5:28 : 2 Sam. 11:2–5; Job 31:1; Prov. 6:25; [Matt. 15:19; James 1:14, 15]
38. Matthew 5:29 : Mark 9:43
39. Matthew 5:29 : [Col. 3:5]
40. Matthew 5:31 : Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11, 12; Luke 16:18
41. Matthew 5:31 : Deut. 24:1; [Jer. 3:1]; Mark 10:2
42. Matthew 5:32 : [Matt. 19:9; Mark 10:11; Luke 16:18; Rom. 7:3]; 1 Cor. 7:11
43. Matthew 5:33 : Matt. 23:16
44. Matthew 5:33 : [Ex. 20:7]; Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2
45. Matthew 5:33 : Deut. 23:23
46. Matthew 5:34 : Matt. 23:16; James 5:12
47. Matthew 5:34 : Is. 66:1
48. Matthew 5:35 : Ps. 48:2; [Matt. 5:2, 19; 6:10]
49. Matthew 5:37 : [Col. 4:6]; James 5:12
50. Matthew 5:38 : Luke 6:29–31
51. Matthew 5:38 : Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
52. Matthew 5:39 : [Prov. 20:22]; Luke 6:29; [Rom. 12:17; 1 Cor. 6:7; 1 Pet. 3:9]
53. Matthew 5:39 : Is. 50:6; Lam. 3:30
54. Matthew 5:41 : Matt. 27:32
55. Matthew 5:42 : Deut. 15:7–11; Luke 6:30–34; 1 Tim. 6:18
56. Matthew 5:43 : Luke 6:27, 28, 32–36
57. Matthew 5:43 : Lev. 19:18
58. Matthew 5:43 : Deut. 23:3–6; Ps. 41:10
59. Matthew 5:44 : Luke 6:27; Rom. 12:14
60. Matthew 5:44 : [Rom. 12:20]
61. Matthew 5:44 : Luke 23:34; Acts 7:60; 1 Cor. 4:12; 1 Pet. 2:23
62. Matthew 5:45 : Job 25:3; Ps. 65:9–13; Luke 12:16, 17; Acts 14:17
63. Matthew 5:46 : Luke 6:32
64. Matthew 5:48 : Gen. 17:1; Lev. 11:44; 19:2; Luke 6:36; [Col. 1:28; 4:12]; James 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:15
65. Matthew 5:48 : Eph. 5:1