Matthew 5:12-22

12 1Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for 2so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

13 "You are the salt of the earth, 3but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 4"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
15 5Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so 6that they may see your good works and 7give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

17 8"Do not think that I have come to abolish 9the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but 10to fulfill them.
18 For truly, I say to you, 11until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19 12Therefore whoever relaxes 13one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least 14in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great 15in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds 16that of the scribes and Pharisees, you 17will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger

21 18"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 19'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable 20to judgment.'
22 But I say to you that 21everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable 22to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to 23the hell[c] of fire.

Cross References 23

  • 1. Acts 5:41; Romans 5:3; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Colossians 1:11, 24; Hebrews 10:34; James 1:2; 1 Peter 4:13
  • 2. See Matthew 21:35
  • 3. Mark 9:50; Luke 14:34
  • 4. Ephesians 5:8; Philippians 2:15; [John 8:12]
  • 5. Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33
  • 6. Philemon 6; 1 Peter 2:12
  • 7. John 15:8; 2 Corinthians 9:13; Philippians 1:11; [Matthew 9:8]
  • 8. Romans 3:31
  • 9. Matthew 7:12
  • 10. [Romans 10:4; Romans 13:8; Galatians 3:24]
  • 11. Luke 16:17; [Matthew 24:35]
  • 12. [1 Corinthians 3:12-15]
  • 13. [Galatians 3:10; James 2:10]
  • 14. Matthew 11:11; Matthew 18:1-4
  • 15. Matthew 11:11; Matthew 18:1-4
  • 16. [Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:9]
  • 17. John 3:5
  • 18. ver. 33; [ver. 27, 31, 38, 43]
  • 19. Cited from Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17; [Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11]
  • 20. [Deuteronomy 16:18]
  • 21. 1 John 3:15
  • 22. [See ver. 21 above]
  • 23. Matthew 18:9; Mark 9:43; James 3:6; [ver. 29]

Footnotes 3

  • [a]. Some manuscripts insert without cause
  • [b]. Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
  • [c]. Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.