Streetlights New Testament - Flipbook - Page 21
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same, you will be called the least in the King
dom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s
laws and teaches them will be called great in
the Kingdom of Heaven.
20 “But I warn you—unless your righteous
ness is better than the righteousness of the
teachers of religious law and the Pharisees,
you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
Teaching about Anger
21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told,
‘You must not murder. If you commit murder,
you are subject to judgment.’ 22But I say, if you
are even angry with someone, you are sub
ject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,
you are in danger of being brought before the
court. And if you curse someone, you are in
danger of the fires of hell.
23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the
altar in the Temple and you suddenly remem
ber that someone has something against you,
24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and
be reconciled to that person. Then come and
offer your sacrifice to God.
25 “When you are on the way to court with
your adversary, settle your differences quickly.
Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to
the judge, who will hand you over to an officer,
and you will be thrown into prison. 26And if
that happens, you surely won’t be free again
until you have paid the last penny.
Teaching about Adultery
27 “You have heard the commandment that
says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ 28 But I
say, anyone who even looks at a woman with
lust has already committed adultery with her
in his heart. 29So if your eye—even your good
eye—causes you to lust, 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. 30And if your hand—even
your stronger hand—causes you to sin, 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 be thrown into hell.
Teaching about Divorce
31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can
divorce his wife by merely giving her a written
notice of divorce.’ 32But I say that a man who
divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaith
ful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone
who marries a divorced woman also commits
adultery.
M at t h e w 6
Teaching about Vows
“You have also heard that our ancestors were
told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must
carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ 34But
I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By
heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. 35And
do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is
his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for
Jerusalem is the city of the great King. 36Do not
even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one
hair white or black. 37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I
will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is
from the evil one.
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Teaching about Revenge
“You have heard the law that says the punish
ment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye,
and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39But I say, do not resist
an evil person! If someone slaps you on the
right cheek, offer the other cheek also. 40If you
are sued in court and your shirt is taken from
you, give your coat, too. 41 If a soldier demands
that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two
miles. 42Give to those who ask, and don’t turn
away from those who want to borrow.
38
Teaching about Love for Enemies
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your
neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44But I say, love
your enemies! Pray for those who persecute
you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true
children of your Father in heaven. For he gives
his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and
he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
46 If you love only those who love you, what
reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax col
lectors do that much. 47If you are kind only to
your friends, how are you different from any
one else? Even pagans do that. 48 But you are
to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven
is perfect.
Teaching about Giving to the Needy
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds pub
licly, to be admired by others, for you will
lose the reward from your Father in heaven.
2 When you give to someone in need, don’t do
as the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in
the synagogues and streets to call attention to
their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they
have received all the reward they will ever get.
3 But when you give to someone in need, don’t
let your left hand know what your right hand
is doing. 4Give your gifts in private, and your
Father, who sees everything, will reward you.
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