Matthew 5:17-24
A reading from the Gospel of Matthew
Glory to you, O Lord.
Jesus said, 'I have not come to do away with the law or the prophets, but to make them complete. The law will remain unchaged until the end of time when it will be fulfilled. So anyone who disobeys the commandments and encourages others to do likewise will rank least in the kingdom of heaven. Those who keep God's commandments and lead others to do the same, will be considered truly grat.
'Listen to me. Unless your goodness is greater than that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you will never make your way into the kingdom of heaven.
'In the past, if someone took a person's life they were called before the court to answer for their wickedness. I tell you now that any one who loses their temper in anger, or calls someone "fool" or "traitor", will be called to answer for those actions too. So if you come before God to offer your gift to him, and then remember that you have upset someone or given them cause to complain about you, go away and make your pece with them with them first.'
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.