Matthew 5 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
~AD 28-30
Location
A mountainside in Galilee
Audience
Jesus' disciples and large crowds from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, and beyond
Situation
Following his early ministry of teaching and miracles that drew crowds, Jesus went up on a mountainside, sat down, and began instructing his disciples with the multitudes gathered around.
Key Background
This chapter opens the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus' extended teaching on the ethics of the Kingdom of Heaven. Amid Roman occupation and fervent Jewish expectations for a political Messiah to overthrow oppressors, Jesus reinterprets the Mosaic Law, prioritizing heart attitudes over ritualistic compliance. The Beatitudes bless the poor in spirit, mourners, meek, and persecuted, challenging prevailing social hierarchies and Pharisaic legalism.
When Jesus saw the he went up the and sat down. His gathered around him,
and he began to them. He said:
is for those who are and it — belongs to them.
Life is good for those who — they will be
Life is good for the — they will the
Life is good for those who are for to be — they will be
Life is good for the — they will receive
Life is good for the — they will
Life is good for those who — they will be called
Life is good for those who are for — God's kingdom belongs to them.
Life is good for you when people you, persecute you, and up all of about you because of me.
and be because your in heaven is huge! They persecuted the who came before you the exact same way.
"You are the of the earth. But if its how can it be made salty again? It's useless — good for nothing but being thrown out and walked on.
You are the of the A city built on a hill can't be hidden.
Nobody lights a and then puts it under a No — you put it on a stand so it lights up the whole house.
In the same way, let your light shine in front of everyone so they can see the you do and to your in
"Don't think I came to down the or the I didn't come to them down — I came to them
I'm you the until heaven and earth disappear, not the — not even the — will disappear from the Law until everything it points to has happened.
So anyone who even the of these commands and teaches others to do the same will be called in God's kingdom. But whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in God's kingdom.
I'm telling you, unless the way you live is more than the and the you will never enter God's kingdom.
it was to people long ago, 'Don't and 'Anyone who murders will face
But I'm telling you, anyone who at a brother or sister will face judgment. Anyone who calls someone will answer to the And anyone who says to me' is in danger of the fire of
So if you're at the about to offer your to God and you remember that someone has something against you,
leave your gift there in front of the altar. Go and with that person first, then come back and offer your gift.
"Settle things quickly with your while you're still on the way to court with them. Otherwise they might hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you'll be thrown in prison.
I'm telling you the truth: you won't get out until you've paid back every
"You've heard it was said, 'Don't commit
But I'm telling you, anyone who at a woman with the to have has already committed adultery with in his heart.
If your right eye you to tear it out and throw it away. It's better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It's better to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to end up in Gehenna.
"It was also said, 'Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a of
But I'm telling you, anyone who divorces his wife — except for — causes her to be to And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits
"Again, heard it was said to people long ago, 'Don't but the to the
But I'm telling you, at all. by heaven — it's God's throne.
Don't swear by the earth — it's God's Don't swear by Jerusalem — it's the city of the
And don't swear by own — you can't even make a single hair white or black.
Just let your 'yes' mean yes and your 'no' mean no. Anything more than that comes from the
"You've heard it was said, 'An for an and a tooth for a tooth.'
But I'm telling you, an evil person. If someone you on the turn the other to them too.
If someone wants to sue you and take your let them have your too.
If someone you to their for it two.
to the one who asks you, and don't turn away from someone who wants to from you.
"You've heard it was said, your and 'Hate your enemy.'
But I'm telling you: for the people who you.
Then you'll be acting like true of in He makes the sun rise on and alike, and sends rain on those who do right and those who don't.
If you only love people who love you back, what is there in that? Even the do that much.
And if you only own what are you doing that's any different? Even the do that.
So be in your love, just as your Father's love is