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,

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.

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 'Avikah shebashamayim ·your Father in Heaven·.

17 “Don’t think that I came to destroy the Torah ·Teaching· 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 or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the Torah ·Teaching·, until all things are accomplished. 19 Therefore, whoever shall disobey the least mitzvot ·instructions· and teaches others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven (God). But whoever shall obey them and so teaches shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven (God). 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Torah-Teachers and Pharisees [Separated], there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven (God).

21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ †Quoted from Ex 20:13; Deut 5:17 and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ ‡Paraphrase Quoted from Ex 21:12; Lev 24:17; Num 35:16 22 But I tell you, that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca! ·Vain, empty, worthless, to spit upon, good-for-nothing·!’ will be in danger of the Sanhedrin ·Sitting together·; and whoever says, ‘Fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna (Place of fiery torment for the dead).

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 quadrans coin (Roman quarter coin about 3/8 of a cent).

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not moicheuo ·commit adultery·;’ §Quoted from Ex 20:14; Deut 5:18 28 but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has moicheuo ·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 (Place of fiery torment for the dead). 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 (Place of fiery torment for the dead).

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a get ·certificate of divorce·,’ *Quoted from Deut 24:1 32 but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of porhneia ·sexual immorality·, makes her moicheuo ·become an adulterer·; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits moichao ·act of adultery·.

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, ‘You shall not make false vows, †Quoted from Deut 23:21 but shall perform to MarYah [Master Yahweh] your vows,’ ‡Quoted from Deut 23:23 §Paraphrase Quoted from Lev 19:12; Num 30:2 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 his footstool; *Quoted from Is 66:1nor by Jerusalem [City of peace], for it is the city of the great King. †Quoted from Ps 48:2 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.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ ‡Quoted from Ex 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21 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 show agapao ·total devoted love· to your neighbor §Quoted from Lev 19:18 and hate and detest your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, show agapao ·total devoted love· to your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate and detest you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, 45 that you may be children of 'Avikah shebashamayim ·your Father 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 show agapao ·total devoted love· those who show agapao ·total devoted love· to 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 do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as 'Avikah shebashamayim ·your Father in Heaven· is perfect. *Quoted from Lev 19:2