20For I say to you, that except your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21Ye heard that it was said to those[21] of old: Thou shalt not kill; and whoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment. 22But I say to you, that every one who is angry with his brother, without cause[22a], shall be in danger of the judgment; and whoever shall say to his brother, Raca[22b]! shall be in danger of the council; and whoever shall say, Thou fool! shall be in danger of hell-fire. 23Therefore if thou bringest thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother has aught against thee; 24leave there thy gift before the altar, and go, first be reconciled to thy brother and then come and offer thy gift.
25Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; lest haply the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26Verily I say to thee, thou shalt not come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
27Ye heard that it was said: Thou shalt not commit adultery. 28But I say to you, that every one who looks on a woman, to lust after her, has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29And if thy right eye causes thee to offend, pluck it out and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand causes thee to offend, cut it off and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members perish, and not thy whole body be cast into hell.
31And it was said: Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement. 32But I say to you, that whoever shall put away his wife, save for the cause of fornication, makes her commit adultery; and whoever shall marry her when put away, commits adultery.
33Again ye heard, that it was said to those of old[33]: Thou shalt not swear falsely, but shalt perform to the Lord thine oaths. 34But I say to you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is God's throne; 35nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36Nor shalt thou swear by thy head; because thou canst not make one hair white or black. 37But let your word be, Yea, yea, Nay, nay; for that which is more than these comes of evil.
38Ye heard that it was said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. 39But I say to you, that ye resist not evil; but whoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41And whoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two. 42Give to him that asks of thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not away.
43Ye heard that it was said: Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and shalt hate thine enemy. 44But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you; 45that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust. 46For if ye love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye that excels? Do not also the heathen thus? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
VI. Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen by them; otherwise ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. 2Therefore when thou doest alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say to you, they have in full their reward. 3But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand does; 4that thine aims may be in secret and thy Father who sees in secret will himself reward thee.
5And when ye pray, ye shall not be as the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Verily I say to you, they have in full their reward. 6But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and having shut thy door, pray to thy Father who is in secret; and thy Father who sees in secret will reward thee.