Matthew 5: 17-37    You have learnt how it was said to your ancestors;

but I say this to you.

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to complete them.

I tell you solemnly, till heaven and earth disappear,

not one dot, not one little stroke, shall disappear from the Law

until its purpose is achieved.

Therefore, the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments

and teaches others to do the same

will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven;

but the man who keeps them and teaches them

will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

‘For I tell you, if your virtue goes no deeper than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
‘You have learnt how it was said to our ancestors:

You must not kill; and if anyone does kill he must answer for it before the court.

But I say this to you:

anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court;

if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin;

and if a man calls him “Renegade” he will answer for it in hell fire.

So then, if you are bringing your offering to the altar

and there remember that your brother has something against you,

leave your offering there before the altar, go and be reconciled with your brother first,

and then come back and present your offering.

Come to terms with your opponent in good time

while you are still on the way to the court with him,

or he may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the officer,

and you will be thrown into prison.

I tell you solemnly, you will not get out till you have paid the last penny.

‘You have learnt how it was said:

You must not commit adultery. But I say this to you:

if a man looks at a woman lustfully,

he has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

If your right eye should cause you to sin, tear it out and throw it away;

for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you

than to have your whole body thrown into hell.

And if your right hand should cause you to sin, cut it off and throw it away;

for it will do you less harm to lose one part of you

than to have your whole body go to hell.
‘It has also been said:

Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a writ of dismissal.

But I say this to you:

everyone who divorces his wife, except for the case of fornication,

makes her an adulteress;

and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

‘Again, you have learnt how it was said to our ancestors:

You must not break your oath, but must fulfil your oaths to the Lord.

But I say this to you: do not swear at all, either by heaven, since that is God’s throne;

or by the earth, since that is his footstool;

or by Jerusalem, since that is the city of the great king.

Do not swear by your own head either,

since you cannot turn a single hair white or black.

All you need say is “Yes” if you mean yes, “No” if you mean no;

anything more than this comes from the evil one.’

This is the gospel of the Lord.

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Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible are published and copyright © 1966, 1967 and 1968 by Darton, Longman & Todd, Ltd and Doubleday, a division of Random House, Inc.

Text of the Psalms: Copyright © 1963, The Grail (England). All rights reserved