Matthew 5:21-48 : Easy-to-Read Version  | SearchSearch | Next Version | Previous Page | Next Page |

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Jesus Teaches About Anger

21"You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, 'Don't kill any person.* And any person that kills will be judged.' 22But I tell you, don't be angry with another person. Every person is your brother. If you are angry with other people, you will be judged. And if you say bad things to another person, you will be judged by the Jewish council. And if you call another person a fool, you will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23"So when you offer your gift to God, think about other people. If you are offering your gift before the altar,* and you remember that your brother has something against you, 24then leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person. Then come and offer your gift. 25"If your enemy is taking you to court, then become friends with him quickly. You should do that before you go to court. If you don't become his friend, then he might give you to the judge. And the judge might give you to a guard to put you in jail. 26And I tell you that you will not leave that jail until you have paid everything you owe.

Jesus Teaches About Sexual Sin

27"You have heard that it was said, 'Don't do the sin of adultery.'* 28But I tell you that if a person looks at a woman and wants to sin sexually with her, then that person has already done that sin with the woman in his mind. 29If your right eye makes you sin, then take it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30If your right hand makes you sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Jesus Teaches About Divorce  (Mt. 19:9; Mk. 10:11-12; Lk. 16:18)

31"It was also said, 'Any person that divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.'* 32But I tell you that any person that divorces his wife is causing his wife to be guilty of the sin of adultery.* The only reason for a person to divorce his wife is if his wife had sexual relations with another man. And any person that marries that divorced woman is guilty of the sin of adultery.

Jesus Teaches About Making Promises

33"You have heard that it was said to our people long ago, 'When you make a vow* (promise), don't break that promise. Keep the vows (promises) that you make to the Lord.'* 34But I tell you, never make a vow. Don't make a vow using the name of heaven, because heaven is God's throne. 35Don't make a vow using the name of the earth, because the earth belongs to God. Don't make a vow using the name of Jerusalem, because that is the city of the great King (God). 36And don't even say that your own head is proof that you will keep your vow. You cannot make one hair on your head become white or black. 37Say only 'yes' if you mean yes, and say only 'no' if you mean no. If you must say more than 'yes' or 'no,' it is from the Evil One (the devil).

Jesus Teaches About Fighting Back (Lk. 6:29-30)

38"You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* 39But I tell you, don't stand against an evil person. If someone hits you on the right cheek, then turn and let him hit the other cheek too. 40If a person wants to sue you in court and take your shirt, then let him have your coat too. 41If a soldier forces you to walk with him one mile, then go with him two miles. 42If a person asks you for something, then give it to him. Don't refuse to give to a person that wants to borrow from you.

Love All People (Lk. 6:27-28, 32-36)

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor* and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you, love your enemies. Pray for those people that do bad things to you. 45If you do this, then you will be true sons of your Father in heaven. Your Father lets the sun rise for the good people and the bad people. Your Father sends rain to people that do good and to people that do wrong. 46If you love only the people that love you, then you will get no reward. Even the tax collectors* do that. 47And if you are nice only to your friends, then you are no better than other people. Even the people without God are nice to their friends. 48So you must be perfect, the same as your Father in heaven is perfect.

'Don't ... person' Quote from Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17. altar Place where sacrifices or gifts are offered to God. 'Don't ... adultery' Quote from Ex. 20:14; Deut. 5:18. 'Any person ... divorce' Quote from Deut. 24:1. adultery Breaking a marriage promise by sexual sin. vow A very strong promise that a person makes, often using the name of something important. 'When ... Lord' See Lev. 19:12; Num. 30:2; Deut. 23:21. 'An eye ... tooth' Quote from Ex. 21:24; Lev. 24:20. 'Love your neighbor' Quote from Lev. 19:18. tax collector(s) Jews hired by the Romans to collect taxes. They often cheated, and the other Jews hated them.

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