1 ARST When Jesus saw these large groups of people, he went up on a hill. He sat down there,{ ready to teach,} and his apprentices gathered around him{ to listen}. BSB BSB: When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain and sat down. His disciples came to Him,
2 ARST Then, he began to instruct them. He said, BSB BSB: and He began to teach them, saying:
3 ARST “It is very good for those who do not have spiritual strength.{ That is} because they are part of God’ s heavenly kingdom. BSB BSB: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 ARST It is very good for those who grieve.{ That is} because God will encourage them. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 ARST It is very good for those who are gentle.{ That is} because God will give them the world{ when he renews it}. BSB BSB: Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 ARST It is very good for those who greatly desire to do what is right.{ That is} because God will enable them to do what they desire to do. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 ARST It is very good for those who are merciful{ to other people}.{ That is} because God will be merciful to them. BSB BSB: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 ARST It is very good for those who desire what is good.{ That is} because they will be with God. BSB BSB: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
10 ARST It is very good for those whom others mistreat because they do what is right.{ That is} because they are part of God’ s heavenly kingdom. BSB BSB: Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 ARST It is very good for you whenever{ people act against you} because you are my apprentices. They may shame you, mistreat you, and tell many hurtful lies about you. BSB BSB: Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.
12 ARST { When people treat you like that}, God is ready to reward you greatly from heaven. So, you should rejoice very much! Further, people mistreated the Jewish prophets long ago just as people mistreat you now. BSB BSB: Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets before you.
13 ARST You are like salt since you make people in this world better, just as salt seasons food. However, if salt were to stop seasoning food well, no one could make it season food well again. No one can use it for anything. So, people throw it away, and others walk on it.{ In the same way, I will punish you if you do not make this world better.} BSB BSB: You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
14 ARST You are like a light that illuminates everyone in this world{ since you tell people about me}.{ You are like} a town on a hill that everyone can see{ since everyone notices the good things that you do}. BSB BSB: You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 ARST Further, when people light a lamp, they do not cover it with a basket. Instead, they put it on a lampstand. That way, it illuminates everyone in the house. BSB BSB: Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket. Instead, they set it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
16 ARST Just as{ the light from a lamp illuminates everyone in a house}, so you should publicly do what is right. That way, people will notice the good things that you do. Then, they will praise God, your Father, who rules from heaven. BSB BSB: In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
18 ARST Every part of the Scriptures will be authoritative as long as what God has created continues to exist.{ Further, the Scriptures will be authoritative} until everything{ that their authors wrote about} happens. What I have said is true. BSB BSB: For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19 ARST So then, suppose that someone disregards even one of the most insignificant laws. Also, suppose that this person teaches other people to do the same thing. This person will be insignificant in God’ s heavenly kingdom. In contrast, suppose that someone obeys the laws and teaches other people to do the same thing. This person will be very important in God’ s heavenly kingdom. BSB BSB: So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 ARST Here is what I mean: You need to do what is right even more than the teachers of the Jewish law and the Pharisees do. That is the only way to participate in God’ s heavenly kingdom. BSB BSB: For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 ARST You know that God said to our ancestors,‘You must not murder anyone. People who murder someone deserve to have a judge decide they are guilty and punish them.’ BSB BSB: You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
22 ARST Now here is what I want to tell you: people who become angry with fellow believers deserve to have a judge decide they are guilty and punish them. People who insult fellow believers deserve to have the Jewish council decide they are guilty and punish them. People who say{ that fellow believers are} foolish deserve to have God punish them in hell. BSB BSB: 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,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
23 ARST So then, suppose that you are standing near the altar{ in the temple} to present something{ to God}. Then, you recall that you have offended a fellow believer. BSB BSB: So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 ARST You should set down near the altar what you are presenting{ to God} and depart{ to visit that fellow believer}. You should resolve what happened to offend that fellow believer. Then, you can go back{ to the altar} and present your gift{ to God}. BSB BSB: leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
25 ARST Suppose that someone intends to say to a judge that you did something wrong. You should try to resolve what happened before that person can speak to the judge. That way, the person does not bring you to the judge, who would command one of the officials to put you in jail. BSB BSB: Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, 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.
26 ARST { If you go to jail,} you will never get out of there until you are able to pay every bit of what the judge says you owe. What I have said is true. BSB BSB: Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 ARST You know that God said,‘Married people must remain sexually faithful to their spouses.’ BSB BSB: You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’
28 ARST Now here is what I want to tell you: suppose that a man stares at a woman who is not his wife so that he can think about having sex with her. Simply because of what he desires, he has been sexually unfaithful to his wife. BSB BSB: But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
29 ARST Suppose that you sinned because you looked at something. You should never do that again, even if you have to remove your eyes to make sure of it!{ You should respond that drastically} because it is better for you to have no eyes than to have a complete body but end up in hell. BSB BSB: 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.
30 ARST Suppose that you sinned because you touched something. You should never do that again, even if you have to chop off your hands to make sure of it!{ You should respond that drastically} because it is better for you to have no hands than to have a complete body but end up in hell. BSB BSB: 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 depart into hell.
31 ARST God said,‘Suppose that a man wants to divorce his wife. He must present her with a document that states that he is divorcing her.’ BSB BSB: It has also been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’
32 ARST Now here is what I want to tell you: a man may divorce his wife only if she has had improper sex. When a man divorces his wife for any other reason, he makes her disobey what God commanded about being sexually faithful to one’ s spouse. Further, any man who marries a woman whose husband has divorced her also disobeys what God commanded about being sexually faithful to one’ s spouse. BSB BSB: But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, brings adultery upon her. And he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
33 ARST Here are more examples: you know that God said to our ancestors,‘You must not promise to do anything that you will not do. Rather, you must always do what you promised the Lord{ that you would do}.’ BSB BSB: Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
34 ARST Now here is what I want to tell you: you must never have someone or something guarantee what you promise. For example, you must not have heaven guarantee it. That is because heaven is where God rules. BSB BSB: But I tell you not to swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;
35 ARST You must not have the earth guarantee what you promise. That is because the earth is what God rules over. You must not have the city of Jerusalem guarantee it. That is because Jerusalem is a city that belongs to God, who is a powerful king. BSB BSB: or by the earth, for it is His footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 ARST You must not have your own head guarantee what you promise. That is because you cannot even control the color of one of your hairs. BSB BSB: Nor should you swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.
37 ARST When you promise something, just say‘Yes, I will do it,’ or‘No, I will not do it.’ When you say more to guarantee what you promised, you are doing what Satan wants{ you to do}. BSB BSB: Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ Anything more comes from the evil one.
39 ARST Now here is what I want to tell you: do not try to stop people who do bad things to you. Rather, suppose that someone{ insults you by} hitting you on the right side of your face. You should turn your face so that the person can hit the left side also. BSB BSB: But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;
40 ARST Suppose that someone wants to sue you for your shirt. You should give that person your coat as well. BSB BSB: if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well;
41 ARST Suppose that someone requires you to carry his or her burden for one section of road. You should continue to carry that person’ s burden for a second{ section of road}. BSB BSB: and if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42 ARST Suppose that someone requests something from you. You should give that person{ what they requested}. Suppose that someone wants to receive a loan from you. You should lend money to that person. BSB BSB: Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
46 ARST Further, if you care for{ only} those who care for you, do not expect God to reward you for doing that. Even{ unkind} tax collectors care for those who care for them. BSB BSB: If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
47 ARST If you say hello{ only} to fellow believers, you are not behaving any differently{ than unbelievers do}. Even{ unbelieving} non- Jews say hello to their friends. BSB BSB: And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even Gentiles do the same?
48 ARST So, you should always do what is right, just as God, your Father, who rules from heaven, always does what is right. BSB BSB: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.