Relationships
Matthew 5:21-48
“Don’t think that I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I came, not to destroy them, but to fulfill them. Truthfully, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one iota or point will by any means, cease in the law until it is fulfilled. Therefore, whoever breaks even one of the least commandments—and teaches others to do so—will be least in the kingdom of heaven. But, whoever keeps them and teaches others to do so; that same person shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. I tell you the truth, unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, none of you will even enter the kingdom of heaven.
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“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder.’ And anyone who murders shall stand before judgment. But I tell you, that everyone enraged with his brother stands judged. And whomever calls his brother ‘Raca!’ risks being brought before the council. And whomever calls someone a fool is in danger of the fire of the trash-dump. Therefore, if you are bringing your gift to the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there. First, go be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
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“Settle matters with your opponent quickly while you are together. Otherwise, your adversary will sue you before a judge, and the judge will deliver you to the bailiff to put you in jail. If so, I tell you the truth, you will have no way to get out, until you have paid your full fine!
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“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say to you, that whosoever lustfully looks on a woman has committed adultery with her already in his heart. So, if your right eye causes you to stumble, remove it and throw it away! It is more beneficial for you to lose one of your members than your whole body to be trashed. And, if thy right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away! It is more profitable for one of your members to perish than your whole body to be trashed.
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“It was said, ‘Whoever dismisses his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for fornication, causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced women commits adultery.
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“Again, you have heard that the ancients were told, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oath you have made to the Lord.’ But I say to you, don’t swear at all—neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne, nor by the earth, because it is his footstool—and neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the king. Don’t swear by your head. You can’t make one hair black or white. Rather, if yes, let your promises be yes; and if no be no. Anything beyond that comes from the evil one.
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“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth,’ but I tell you to not resist evil. To whoever hits you on your right cheek, turn the other to him. And if any man sues you for your coat, give him your overcoat as well. And when you are forced to go a mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks and loan to those who want to borrow.
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“You have heard that it has been said, ‘Love your neighbor, but hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies. Bless those that curse you. Do good to people who hate you, and pray for those who take advantage of you and abuse you. Thus, you may become children of your Father which is in heaven, because he makes his sun rise on the good and the bad, and sends rain to both the just and on the unjust. If you only love those who love you, why should you be rewarded? Don’t even the gentiles do that? And if you are only willing to acknowledge other Jews, where is the extra in that? Don’t the gentiles act like that? Therefore, you be perfect like your Father in heaven is perfect.