Gospel of Matthew, CEB Study Bible
General Editor: Joel B. Green
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up
a mountain. He sat down and his disciples
came to him. He taught them, saying:
Happy are people who are hopeless,
because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Happy are people who grieve, because they
will be made glad.
Happy are people who are humble, because
they will inherit the earth.
Happy are people who are hungry and thirsty for
righteousness, because they will be fed until
they are full.
Happy are people who show mercy, because
they will receive mercy.
Happy are people who have pure hearts,
because they will see God.
Happy are people who make peace,
because they will be called God's children.
Happy are people whose lives are harassed
because they are righteous, because
the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
Happy are you when people insult you and harass you
and speak all kinds of bad and false things about you, all
because of me. Be full of you and be glad, because you
have a great reward in heaven. In the same way,
people harassed the prophets who came before you.
You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its saltiness,
how will it become salty again? It's good for nothing except
to be thrown away and trampled under people's feet. You
are the light of the world. A city on top of a hill can't be
hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under
a basket. Instead they put it on top of a lamp stand, and
it shines on all who are in the house. In the same way,
let your light shine before people, so they can see the
good things you do and praise your Father who is in
heaven. Don't even begin to think that I have come to
do away with the Law (Torah) and the Prophets (Nebi'im).
I haven't come to do away with them but to fulfill them.
I say to you very seriously that as long as heaven and earth
exist, neither the smallest letter nor even the smallest stroke
of a pen will be erased from the Law until everything there
becomes a reality. Therefore, who ever ignores one of
the least of these commands and teaches others to do the
same will be called the lowest in the kingdom of heaven.
But whoever keeps these commands and teaches people
to keep them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
I say to you that unless your righteousness is greater than
the righteousness of the legal experts of the Pharisees,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
You have heard that it was said to those who lived
long ago, Don't Commit Murder (Exodus, ch. 20,
verse 13), and all who commit murder will be in
danger of judgment. But I say to you that everyone
who is angry with their brother or sister will be in
danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or
sister, 'You idiot,' they will be in danger of being
condemned by the governing council. And if they
say 'You fool,' they will be in danger of fiery hell.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and
there remember that your brother or sister has
something against you, leave your gift at the altar
and go. First make things right with your brother
and sister and then come back and offer your gift.
Be sure to make friends quickly with your opponents
while you are with them on the way to court. Other-
wise, they will haul you before the judge, the judge
will turn you over to the officer of the court, and
you will be thrown into prison. I say to you in
all seriousness that you won't get out of there
until you've paid the very last penny.
You have heard that it was said, Don't commit
adultery (Exodus chapter 20, verse 14).
But I say to you that every man who looks at a
woman lustfully has already committed adultery in
his heart. And if your right eye causes you to fall
into sin, tear it out and throw it away. It's better
that you lose a part of your body than that your
whole body be thrown into hell. And if you right
hand causes you to fall into sin, chop it off and
thrown it away. It's better that you lose a part
of your body than that your whole body go into hell.
It was said, Whoever divorces his wife, must
give her a divorce certificate (Deuteronomy
chapter 24, verse 1). But I say to you that
whoever divorces his wife except for sexual
unfaithfulness forces her to commit adultery.
And whoever marries a divorced woman commits
adultery.
Again you have heard that it was said to those
who lived long ago: Don't make a false solemn
pledge, but you should follow through on
what you have pledged to the Lord (Leviticus
chapter 19, verse 12). But I say to you that you
must not pledge at all. You must not pledge by
heaven, because it's God's throne. You must not
pledge by the earth, because it's God's footstool.
You must not pledge by Jerusalem, because it's
the city of the great king. And you must not
pledge by your head, because you can't turn
one hair white or black. Let your YES mean yes,
and your NO mean no. Anything more than this
comes from the evil one.
You have heard that it was said, An eye for
an eye and a tooth for a tooth (Exodus
chapter 21, verse 24). But I say to you
that you must not oppose those who want to
hurt you. If people slap you on your right
cheek, you must turn the left cheek to them as well.
When they wish to haul you to court and take your
shirt, let them have your coat too. When they
force you to go one mile, go with them two.
Give to those who ask, and don't refuse them,
and don't refuse those who wish to borrow from you.
You have heard that it was said, You must love
your neighbor (Leviticus chapter 19, verse 18)
and hate your enemy (non-biblical origin). But
I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those
who harass you so that you will be acting as children
of your Father who is in heaven. He makes the sun
rise on both the evil and the good and sends rain
on both the righteous and the unrighteous. If you
love only those who love you, what reward do you
have? Don't even the tax collectors do the same?
And if you greet only your brothers and sisters,
what more are you doing? Don't even the Gentiles
do the same? Therefore, just as your heavenly
Father is complete in showing love to everyone,
so also you must be complete (Greek term
teleios meaning "highest perfection").
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