Matthew 5:33-48 ▼

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors, ‘Do not take a false oath, but make good to the Lord all that you vow.’

34 But I say to you, do not swear at all; not by heaven, for it is God’s throne;

35 nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

36 Do not swear by your head, for you cannot make a single hair white or black.

37 Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on [your] right cheek, turn the other one to him as well.

40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.

41 Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.

42 Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you,

45 that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.

46 For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same?

48 So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.