Matthew 5:21-48
Murder
21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Adultery
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Divorce
31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.
Oaths
33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
Eye for Eye
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.
Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
We should know and learn about the gravity of our words and our inner intentions and how Jesus taught about these things...He taught that verbal abuse is not a minor slip of the tongue, but a serious moral offense...In the Sermon on the Mount, He elevated the standard of the Law by connecting anger and insulting words directly to the sin of murder (Matthew 5:22)...He understood that the same heart that harbors contempt eventually breeds violence...To counteract this, He taught that our communication should always be constructive...As the Apostle Paul later echoed, we are to let no unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs (Ephesians 4:29)...For the believer, speech is an instrument of grace, not a tool for tearing down those made in God's Image...
Jesus teaches about the integrity in our relationship and in our speech and about: Adultery, Divorce, and Oaths...Jesus continues this call for a "surpassing righteousness" by addressing the sanctity of our commitments, teaching that kindness is not just an external act but a deep-seated faithfulness...In Matthew 5:27–32, He warns against adultery and provides strict boundaries for divorce, reminding us that these actions are not ways of kindness, but negative ways of treating others that cause profound pain and brokenness, especially when children are involved...By elevating the standard from physical acts to the intentions of the heart, Jesus protects the dignity of our neighbors and immediate families...Furthermore, in His teaching on Oaths (Matthew 5:33–37), Jesus instructs us to let our "Yes be Yes" and our "No be No."...This requirement for absolute honesty removes the need for elaborate vows and reminds us of God's providence; because He is the Final Judge and the sustainer of all things, we do not need to manipulate others through oaths or seek our own revenge...True kindness is found in a heart so filled with integrity that our simple word is enough...One's word throughout their life means something important to Jesus, and He teaches us to keep our "Good Word when talking to God and Others."...
The Christian calling goes beyond simply avoiding "bad words"; it is an active pursuit of: Blessing, Not Cursing Others...We are instructed to repay evil with blessing because we were called to this very purpose so that we may inherit a blessing ourselves (1 Peter 3:9)...This means actively wishing people well and praying for their good, even when they are actively cursing or mistreating us, even our enemies...This reflects God’s impartial LOVE—the same LOVE that causes the sun to rise on both the evil and the good...When we bless those who mistreat us, we prove that our identity is rooted in Christ’s character rather than our own wounded pride...
Jesus addressed the ancient concept of "an eye for an eye," clarifying that while it applied to civil justice, it was never intended to justify personal vengeance....Retaliation and revenge are not characteristics of Jesus and are not in His Teachings...Instead, He advocated for a revolutionary non-vengeance in personal interactions...His instruction to "turn the other cheek" (Matthew 5:39) is the opposite of revenge and a call for nonviolent resistance to personal insults...It is the strength to stand firm in one's dignity without descending into the gutter of retaliation...By refusing to strike back, we break the cycle of anger and demonstrate a "surpassing righteousness" that values the soul of the adversary more than the satisfaction of a comeback...
Ultimately, Jesus’ followers must remember that vengeance, revenge, and judgment belong exclusively to God (Romans 12:19)...When we try to take revenge, we are essentially trying to sit in God's seat...By letting go of the need to "get even," we are free to follow the overall teaching to not be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21)...We see this most clearly in Jesus’ own example: during His unimaginable suffering, He responded to insults and physical abuse without a single threat, entrusting Himself entirely to God’s just judgment (1 Peter 2:23)...As we strive to let our light shine today, we do so by reflecting this same tenderness, humility, and patience, showing the world that the Way of the Master is a way of peace...