Matthew 5:17-37

Good News Translation

Teaching about the Law

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. ^18 (A)Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with—not until the end of all things.^{[a] 19} So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.

Teaching about Anger

^21 (B)“You have heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not commit murder; anyone who does will be brought to trial.’ ²² But now I tell you: if you are angry^[b] with your brother you will be brought to trial, if you call your brother ‘You good-for-nothing!’ you will be brought before the Council, and if you call your brother a worthless fool you will be in danger of going to the fire of hell. ²³ So if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God.

²⁵ “If someone brings a lawsuit against you and takes you to court, settle the dispute while there is time, before you get to court. Once you are there, you will be turned over to the judge, who will hand you over to the police, and you will be put in jail. ²⁶ There you will stay, I tell you, until you pay the last penny of your fine.

Teaching about Adultery

^27 (C)“You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But now I tell you: anyone who looks at a woman and wants to possess her is guilty of committing adultery with her in his heart. ^29 (D)So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. ^30 (E)If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell.

Teaching about Divorce^(F)

^31 (G)“It was also said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.’ ^32 (H)But now I tell you: if a man divorces his wife for any cause other than her unfaithfulness, then he is guilty of making her commit adultery if she marries again; and the man who marries her commits adultery also.

Teaching about Vows

^33 (I)“You have also heard that people were told in the past, ‘Do not break your promise, but do what you have vowed to the Lord to do.’ ^34 (J)But now I tell you: do not use any vow when you make a promise. Do not swear by heaven, for it is God's throne; ^35 (K)nor by earth, for it is the resting place for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ Do not even swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. ³⁷ Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’—anything else you say comes from the Evil One.