Background
notes
Questions
to consider when reading the Sermon on the Mount
Check some further information about this document
as a mp3
file or as a txt file.
Sources: www.genesis.net.au/reference/bible/
and bible.gospelcom.net
Matthew 4
1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the
desert to be tempted by the devil. 2 After fasting forty days and forty nights,
he was hungry. 3 The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of
God, tell these stones to become bread." 4 Jesus answered, "It is written:
`Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the
mouth of God.' 5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand
on the highest point of the temple. 6 "If you are the Son of God," he said,
"throw yourself down. For it is written: "`He will command his angels concerning
you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike
your foot against a stone.' 7 Jesus answered him, "It is also written: `Do
not put the Lord your God to the test.' 8 Again, the devil took him to a
very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their
splendor. 9 "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and
worship me." 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written:
`Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.' 11 Then the devil left him,
and angels came and attended him. 12 When Jesus heard that John had been
put in prison, he returned to Galilee. 13 Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived
in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--
14 to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah: 15 "Land of Zebulun
and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the
Gentiles-- 16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those
living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." 17 From that
time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."
18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon
called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake,
for they were fishermen. 19 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make
you fishers of men." 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and
his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing
their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and
their father and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching
in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing
every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all
over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases,
those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures,
and the paralyzed, and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the
Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed
him.
Matthew 5
1 Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on
a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to
teach them, saying: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed
are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in
heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will
be called sons of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of
righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when
people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against
you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in
heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before
you. 13 "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 by men. 14 "You are the light of the world.
A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before
men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
17 "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. 18 I tell you the truth, 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. 19 Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments
and teaches others to do the same 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. 20 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. 21 "You have heard that it was said to the
people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to
judgment.' 22 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, is
answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, `You fool!' will be in
danger of the fire of hell. 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift
at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled
to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 "Settle matters quickly
with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still
with him on the way, or 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 I
tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
27 "You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' 28 But I tell
you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery
with her in his heart. 29 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 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 go into hell. 31 "It has been
said, `Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.'
32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for marital
unfaithfulness, causes her to become an adulteress, and anyone who marries
the divorced woman commits adultery. 33 "Again, you have heard that it was
said to the people long ago, `Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths
you have made to the Lord.' 34 But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either
by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool;
or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear
by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 Simply
let your `Yes' be `Yes,' and your `No,' `No'; anything beyond this comes
from the evil one. 38 "You have heard that it was said, `Eye for eye, and
tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone
strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if someone
wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41
If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the
one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from
you. 43 "You have heard that it was said, `Love your neighbor 44 But I tell
you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you
may be sons 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. 46 If
you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax
collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you
doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore,
as your heavenly Father is perfect.
|