The Word Am I

The Gospel According to St. Matthew

⭑ World English Bible Catholic :: King James Version ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 5 -

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,

The Beatitudes

(Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)
3
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. (a)
4
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (b)
5
Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth. (c) (d)
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.
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.

Salt and Light

(Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34–35; Philippians 2:12–18)
13
“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men.
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.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17
“Don’t think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets. I didn’t come to destroy, but to fulfill.
18
For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter (e) or one tiny pen stroke (f) 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.

Anger and Reconciliation

(Luke 12:57–59)
21
“You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ (g) and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
22
But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause (h) will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ (i) will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna. (j)
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. (k)

Adultery

(Leviticus 18:1–30)
27
“You have heard that it was said, (l) ‘You shall not commit adultery;’ (m)
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. (n)
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. (o)

Divorce

(Deuteronomy 24:1–5; Luke 16:18)
31
“It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,’ (p)
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.

Oaths and Vows

(Numbers 30:1–16)
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,’ (q)
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.

Love Your Enemies

(Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)
38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ (r)
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.
43
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (s) and hate your enemy.’ (t)
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 (u) do the same?
48
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Footnotes

(a)5:3 ℘ Isaiah 57:15; 66:2
(b)5:4 ℘ Isaiah 61:2; 66:10,13
(c)5:5 or, land.
(d)5:5 ℘ Psalms 37:11
(e)5:18 literally, iota
(f)5:18 or, serif
(g)5:21 ℘ Exodus 20:13
(h)5:22 NU omits “without a cause”.
(i)5:22 “Raca” is an Aramaic insult, related to the word for “empty” and conveying the idea of empty-headedness.
(j)5:22 or, Hell
(k)5:26 literally, kodrantes. A kodrantes was a small copper coin worth about 2 lepta (widow’s mites)—not enough to buy very much of anything.
(l)5:27 TR adds “to the ancients”.
(m)5:27 ℘ Exodus 20:14
(n)5:29 or, Hell
(o)5:30 or, Hell
(p)5:31 ℘ Deuteronomy 24:1
(q)5:33 ℘ Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4
(r)5:38 ℘ Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
(s)5:43 ℘ Leviticus 19:18
(t)5:43 not in the Bible, but see Qumran Manual of Discipline Ix, 21-26
(u)5:47 NU reads “Gentiles” instead of “tax collectors”.
1
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

The Beatitudes

(Psalm 1:1–6; Luke 6:20–23)
3
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4
Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6
Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 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 the children of God.
10
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Salt and Light

(Mark 9:49–50; Luke 14:34–35; Philippians 2:12–18)
13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Anger and Reconciliation

(Luke 12:57–59)
21
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
25
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
26
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Adultery

(Leviticus 18:1–30)
27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
29
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
30
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Divorce

(Deuteronomy 24:1–5; Luke 16:18)
31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
32
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

Oaths and Vows

(Numbers 30:1–16)
33
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:
34
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:
35
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
36
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
37
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Love Your Enemies

(Leviticus 24:17–23; Luke 6:27–36)
38
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
39
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
43
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞