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New King James Version

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him,

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The Beatitudes

And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.

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and he began to teach them.The Beatitudes

He said:

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Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

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“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

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Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.

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Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.

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Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the [a]earth.

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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.

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Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.

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Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

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Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.

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Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

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Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

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Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

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Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.

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Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

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“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

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Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

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Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

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

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Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

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Believers Are Salt and Light

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

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“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

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“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

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Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

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Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.

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In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

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Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

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The Fulfillment of the Law

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

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Christ Fulfills the Law

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

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For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

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For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one [b]jot or one [c]tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

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Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

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For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

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For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

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Murder

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,a and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

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Murder Begins in the Heart

“You have heard that it was said to those [d]of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

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But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sisterbc will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’d is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

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But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother [e]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’[f] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [g]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [h]hell fire.

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“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,

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Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

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leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

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leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

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“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

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Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

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Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

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Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

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Adultery

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’e

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Adultery in the Heart

“You have heard that it was said [i]to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

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But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

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But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

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If your right eye causes you to stumble, 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.

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If your right eye causes you to [j]sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

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And if your right hand causes you to stumble, 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 go into hell.

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And if your right hand causes you to [k]sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

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Divorce

“It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’f

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Marriage Is Sacred and Binding

“Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

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But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

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But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except [l]sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

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Oaths

“Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’

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Jesus Forbids Oaths

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of [m]old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’

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But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

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But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

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or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.

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nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

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And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

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Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

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All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.g

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But let [n]your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

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Eye for Eye

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’h

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Go the Second Mile

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

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But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.

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But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

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And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.

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If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

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If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

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And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

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Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

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Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

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Love for Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbori and hate your enemy.’

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Love Your Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

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But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

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[o]But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

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that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

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that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

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If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

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For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

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And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

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And if you greet your [p]brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the [q]tax collectors do so?

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Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

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Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Parallel

New International Version

New King James Version

Matthew 5

Matthew 5