"Think not that I came to destroy the law or the prophets: I came not
to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and
earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from
the law, till all things be accomplished. Whosoever therefore shall
break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall
be called least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and
teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I
say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter
into the kingdom of heaven.
"Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'Thou shalt not
kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:'
but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall
be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother,
'Raca,' shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say,
'Thou fool,' shall be in danger of the hell of fire.
"If therefore thou art offering thy gift at the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy
gift before the altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thy
brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary
quickly, while thou art with him in the way; lest haply the adversary
deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer,
and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by
no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing.
"Ye have heard that it was said, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery:' but
I say unto you, that every one that looketh on a woman to lust after
her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. And if thy
right eye causeth thee to stumble, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. And if thy right
hand causeth thee to stumble, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for
it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and
not thy whole body go into hell.
"It was said also, 'Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give
her a writing of divorcement:' but I say unto you, that every one that
putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her
an adulteress: and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away
committeth adultery.
"Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'Thou
shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine
oaths:' but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven,
for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool
of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair
white or black. But let your speech be, 'Yea, yea; Nay, nay:' and
whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.
"Ye have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a
tooth:' but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil: but whosoever
smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if
any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him
have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile,
go with him two. Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that
taketh away thy goods ask them not again, and from him that would
borrow of thee turn not thou away. All things therefore whatsoever ye
would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them: for
this is the law and the prophets.
"Ye have heard that it was said, 'Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and
hate thine enemy:' but I say unto you, Love your enemies, do good to
them that hate you, bless them that curse you, pray for them that
despitefully use you, that ye may be sons of your Father who is in
heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and
sendeth rain on the just and the unjust. For if ye love them that love
you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if
ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even
the Gentiles the same? And if ye do good to them that do good to you,
what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same. And if ye lend to
them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend
to sinners, to receive again as much. But love your enemies, and do
them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great,
and ye shall be sons of the Most High: for he is kind toward the
unthankful and evil. Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly
Father is perfect.