Matt.5.21-Matt.5.42
Matt.5.21
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:
Matt.5.21
"You're familiar with the command to the ancients, "Do not murder.'
Matt.5.21
"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'
Matt.5.21
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
Matt.5.21
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.'
Matt.5.22
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.
Matt.5.22
I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother "idiot!' and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell "stupid!' at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
Matt.5.22
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, 'is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Matt.5.22
But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, "Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, "You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matt.5.22
But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.
Matt.5.23
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
Matt.5.23
"This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you,
Matt.5.23
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Matt.5.23
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Matt.5.23
"So if you are standing before the altar in the Temple, offering a sacrifice to God, and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,
Matt.5.24
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Matt.5.24
abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
Matt.5.24
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Matt.5.24
leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
Matt.5.24
leave your sacrifice there beside the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.
Matt.5.25
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.
Matt.5.25
"Or say you're out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don't lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you're likely to end up in court, maybe even jail.
Matt.5.25
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
Matt.5.25
Agree with your adversary quickly, 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.
Matt.5.25
Come to terms quickly with your enemy before it is too late and you are dragged into court, handed over to an officer, and thrown in jail.
Matt.5.26
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
Matt.5.26
If that happens, you won't get out without a stiff fine.
Matt.5.26
I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Matt.5.26
Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Matt.5.26
I assure you that you won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.
Matt.5.27
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Matt.5.27
"You know the next commandment pretty well, too: "Don't go to bed with another's spouse.'
Matt.5.27
"You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'
Matt.5.27
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not commit adultery.'
Matt.5.27
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not commit adultery.'
Matt.5.28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Matt.5.28
But don't think you've preserved your virtue simply by staying out of bed. Your heart can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. Those leering looks you think nobody notices--they also corrupt.
Matt.5.28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt.5.28
But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt.5.28
But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust in his eye has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Matt.5.29
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.
Matt.5.29
"Let's not pretend this is easier than it really is. If you want to live a morally pure life, here's what you have to do: You have to blind your right eye the moment you catch it in a lustful leer. You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash pile.
Matt.5.29
If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matt.5.29
If your right eye causes you to sin, 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.
Matt.5.29
So if your eye--even if it is your good eye--causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matt.5.30
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.
Matt.5.30
And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised threateningly. Better a bloody stump than your entire being discarded for good in the dump.
Matt.5.30
And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matt.5.30
And if your right hand causes you to 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.
Matt.5.30
And if your hand--even if it is your stronger hand--causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
Matt.5.31
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:
Matt.5.31
"Remember the Scripture that says, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him do it legally, giving her divorce papers and her legal rights'?
Matt.5.31
"It has been said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'
Matt.5.31
"Furthermore it has been said, "Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.'
Matt.5.31
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a letter of divorce.'
Matt.5.32
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.
Matt.5.32
Too many of you are using that as a cover for selfishness and whim, pretending to be righteous just because you are "legal.' Please, no more pretending. If you divorce your wife, you're responsible for making her an adulteress (unless she has already made herself that by sexual promiscuity). And if you marry such a divorced adulteress, you're automatically an adulterer yourself. You can't use legal cover to mask a moral failure.
Matt.5.32
But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries the divorced woman commits adultery.
Matt.5.32
But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.
Matt.5.32
But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Matt.5.33
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:
Matt.5.33
"And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions.
Matt.5.33
"Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.'
Matt.5.33
"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, "You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.'
Matt.5.33
"Again, you have heard that the law of Moses says, 'Do not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.'
Matt.5.34
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne:
Matt.5.34
You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, "I'll pray for you,' and never doing it, or saying, "God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true.
Matt.5.34
But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God's throne;
Matt.5.34
But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne;
Matt.5.34
But I say, don't make any vows! If you say, 'By heaven!' it is a sacred vow because heaven is God's throne.
Matt.5.35
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.
Matt.5.35
Just say "yes' and "no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.
Matt.5.35
or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.
Matt.5.35
nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Matt.5.35
And if you say, 'By the earth!' it is a sacred vow because the earth is his footstool. And don't swear, 'By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King.
Matt.5.36
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.
Matt.5.36
"Here's another old saying that deserves a second look: "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth.'
Matt.5.36
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.
Matt.5.36
Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.
Matt.5.36
Don't even swear, 'By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black.
Matt.5.37
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
Matt.5.37
Is that going to get us anywhere? Here's what I propose: "Don't hit back at all.' If someone strikes you, stand there and take it.
Matt.5.37
Simply let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Matt.5.37
But let your "Yes' be "Yes,' and your "No,' "No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.
Matt.5.37
Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.
Matt.5.38
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
Matt.5.38
If someone drags you into court and sues for the shirt off your back, giftwrap your best coat and make a present of it.
Matt.5.38
"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.'
Matt.5.38
"You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
Matt.5.38
"You have heard that the law of Moses says, 'If an eye is injured, injure the eye of the person who did it. If a tooth gets knocked out, knock out the tooth of the person who did it.'
Matt.5.39
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.
Matt.5.39
And if someone takes unfair advantage of you, use the occasion to practice the servant life.
Matt.5.39
But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
Matt.5.39
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.
Matt.5.39
But I say, don't resist an evil person! If you are slapped on the right cheek, turn the other, too.
Matt.5.40
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
Matt.5.40
No more tit-for-tat stuff. Live generously.
Matt.5.40
And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
Matt.5.40
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.
Matt.5.40
If you are ordered to court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.
Matt.5.41
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
Matt.5.41
"You're familiar with the old written law, "Love your friend,' and its unwritten companion, "Hate your enemy.'
Matt.5.41
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Matt.5.41
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Matt.5.41
If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
Matt.5.42
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
Matt.5.42
I'm challenging that. I'm telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer,
Matt.5.42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Matt.5.42
Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.
Matt.5.42
Give to those who ask, and don't turn away from those who want to borrow.
