Matthew 5:33-43

Oaths

33 "Again 1you have heard that it was said to those of old, 2'You shall not swear falsely, but 3shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.'
34 But I say to you, 4Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for 5it is the throne of God,
35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is 6the city of the great King.
36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37 Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; 7anything more than this comes from evil.[a]

Retaliation

38 8"You have heard that it was said, 9'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'
39 But I say to you, 10Do not resist the one who is evil. But 11if anyone 12slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And 13if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[b] let him have your cloak as well.
41 And if anyone 14forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
42 15Give to the one who begs from you, and 16do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

43 17"You have heard that it was said, 18'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

Cross References 18

  • 1. [See ver. 27 above]
  • 2. Leviticus 19:12; 1 Timothy 1:10
  • 3. Numbers 30:2; Deuteronomy 23:21; Ecclesiastes 5:4
  • 4. James 5:12
  • 5. Matthew 23:22; Isaiah 66:1; Acts 7:49; See Revelation 4:2
  • 6. Psalms 48:2
  • 7. [Proverbs 10:19]
  • 8. [See ver. 27 above]
  • 9. Cited from Exodus 21:24; Leviticus 24:20; Deuteronomy 19:21
  • 10. 1 Peter 2:23
  • 11. For ver. 39-42, see Luke 6:29, 30; [Romans 12:17]
  • 12. Matthew 26:67; Isaiah 50:6; Lamentations 3:30
  • 13. [See ver. 39 above]
  • 14. Matthew 27:32
  • 15. Psalms 37:21; Proverbs 21:26
  • 16. Deuteronomy 15:8; Psalms 37:26; Psalms 112:5; Luke 6:34, 35
  • 17. See ver. 21
  • 18. Cited from Leviticus 19:18; See Matthew 19:19

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or the evil one
  • [b]. Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.