Matthew 5

Jesus begins the Sermon on the Mount with the Beatitudes, calling the poor in spirit, those who mourn and the peacemakers blessed. He tells his followers they are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and deepens the law on anger, lust, oaths and revenge, ending with: love your enemies.

Key verses

  • Verse 3The kingdom belongs to those who know their need of God.
  • Verse 14Jesus' followers are meant to be seen, like a light.
  • Verse 44Love your enemies and pray for them.

And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:SelectedMatthew 5:1Ask

And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,SelectedMatthew 5:2Ask

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.SelectedMatthew 5:3Ask

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.SelectedMatthew 5:4Ask

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.SelectedMatthew 5:5Ask

Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.SelectedMatthew 5:6Ask

Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.SelectedMatthew 5:7Ask

Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.SelectedMatthew 5:8Ask

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.SelectedMatthew 5:9Ask

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.SelectedMatthew 5:10Ask

Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.SelectedMatthew 5:11Ask

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.SelectedMatthew 5:12Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:13Ask

Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.SelectedMatthew 5:14Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:15Ask

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.SelectedMatthew 5:16Ask

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.SelectedMatthew 5:17Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:18Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:19Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:20Ask

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:SelectedMatthew 5:21Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:22Ask

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;SelectedMatthew 5:23Ask

Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.SelectedMatthew 5:24Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:25Ask

Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.SelectedMatthew 5:26Ask

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:SelectedMatthew 5:27Ask

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.SelectedMatthew 5:28Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:29Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:30Ask

It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:SelectedMatthew 5:31Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:32Ask

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:SelectedMatthew 5:33Ask

But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne:SelectedMatthew 5:34Ask

Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.SelectedMatthew 5:35Ask

Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.SelectedMatthew 5:36Ask

But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.SelectedMatthew 5:37Ask

Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:SelectedMatthew 5:38Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:39Ask

And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.SelectedMatthew 5:40Ask

And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.SelectedMatthew 5:41Ask

Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.SelectedMatthew 5:42Ask

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.SelectedMatthew 5:43Ask

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;SelectedMatthew 5:44Ask

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.SelectedMatthew 5:45Ask

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?SelectedMatthew 5:46Ask

And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?SelectedMatthew 5:47Ask

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.SelectedMatthew 5:48Ask

Read from the KJV text.

Read alongside

All 28 chapters of Matthew
  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16
  17. 17
  18. 18
  19. 19
  20. 20
  21. 21
  22. 22
  23. 23
  24. 24
  25. 25
  26. 26
  27. 27
  28. 28