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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"><title>Matthew 5 CEV</title><link rel="stylesheet" href="/chapnew2.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="../spec.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="../cmenus/matthew/5.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="../topmenuchap/matthew/5-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="//biblehub.com">Bible</a> > <a href="../">CEV</a> > Matthew 5</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="../matthew/4.htm" title="Matthew 4">◄</a> Matthew 5 <a href="../matthew/6.htm" title="Matthew 6">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheading">Contemporary English Version</div><div class="chap"><h3 class="s1">The Sermon on the Mount</h3><p class="par"><span class="v40_5_1"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.1" class="v40_5_1">1</span>When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.1!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><h3 class="s1">Blessings</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="LUK 6:20-23">Luke 6.20-23</ref>)</h5><p class="par"><span class="v40_5_1">Jesus' disciples gathered around him, </span><span class="v40_5_2"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.2" class="v40_5_2">2</span>and he taught them:</span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_3"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.3" class="v40_5_3">3</span>God blesses those people</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_3">who depend only on him.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_3">They belong to the kingdom</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_3">of heaven!<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.3!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_4"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.4" class="v40_5_4">4</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.4!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God blesses those people</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_4">who grieve.</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_4">They will find comfort!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_5"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.5" class="v40_5_5">5</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.5!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God blesses those people</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_5">who are humble.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_5">The earth will belong</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_5">to them!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_6"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.6" class="v40_5_6">6</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.6!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God blesses those people</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_6">who want to obey him<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.6!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_6">more than to eat or drink.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_6">They will be given</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_6">what they want!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_7"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.7" class="v40_5_7">7</span>God blesses those people</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_7">who are merciful.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_7">They will be treated</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_7">with mercy!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_8"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.8" class="v40_5_8">8</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.8!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God blesses those people</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_8">whose hearts are pure.</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_8">They will see him!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_9"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.9" class="v40_5_9">9</span>God blesses those people</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_9">who make peace.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_9">They will be called</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_9">his children!</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_10"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.10" class="v40_5_10">10</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.10!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God blesses those people</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_10">who are treated badly</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_10">for doing right.</span></p><p class="q1"><span class="v40_5_10">They belong to the kingdom</span></p><p class="q2"><span class="v40_5_10">of heaven.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.10!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span></p><p class="b"></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_11"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.11" class="v40_5_11">11</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.11!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. </span><span class="v40_5_12"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.12" class="v40_5_12">12</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.12!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Be happy and excited! You will have a great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived long ago.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Salt and Light</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MRK 9:50">Mark 9.50</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 14:34">Luke 14.34</ref>,<ref loc="LUK 14:35">35</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_13"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.13" class="v40_5_13">13</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.13!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You are the salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_14"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.14" class="v40_5_14">14</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.14!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You are the light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, </span><span class="v40_5_15"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.15" class="v40_5_15">15</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.15!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> and no one lights a lamp and puts it under a clay pot. Instead, it is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. </span><span class="v40_5_16"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.16" class="v40_5_16">16</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.16!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Make your light shine, so others will see the good you do and will praise your Father in heaven.</span></p><h3 class="s1">The Law of Moses</h3><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_17"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.17" class="v40_5_17">17</span>Don't suppose I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.17!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. </span><span class="v40_5_18"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.18" class="v40_5_18">18</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.18!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_19"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.19" class="v40_5_19">19</span>If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom. </span><span class="v40_5_20"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.20" class="v40_5_20">20</span>You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Anger</h3><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_21"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.21" class="v40_5_21">21</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.21!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You know our ancestors were told, “Do not murder” and “A murderer must be brought to trial.” </span><span class="v40_5_22"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.22" class="v40_5_22">22</span>But I promise you if you are angry with someone,<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.22!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_23"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.23" class="v40_5_23">23</span>So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, </span><span class="v40_5_24"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.24" class="v40_5_24">24</span>leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.</span></p><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_25"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.25" class="v40_5_25">25</span>Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don't, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail. </span><span class="v40_5_26"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.26" class="v40_5_26">26</span>I promise you will not get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Marriage</h3><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_27"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.27" class="v40_5_27">27</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.27!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You know the commandment which says, “Be faithful in marriage.” </span><span class="v40_5_28"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.28" class="v40_5_28">28</span>But I tell you if you look at another woman and want her, you are already unfaithful in your thoughts. </span><span class="v40_5_29"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.29" class="v40_5_29">29</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.29!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> If your right eye causes you to sin, poke it out and throw it away. It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to end up in hell. </span><span class="v40_5_30"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.30" class="v40_5_30">30</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.30!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> If your right hand causes you to sin, chop it off and throw it away! It is better to lose one part of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Divorce</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="MAT 19:9">Matthew 19.9</ref>; <ref loc="MRK 10:11">Mark 10.11</ref>,<ref loc="MRK 10:12">12</ref>; <ref loc="LUK 16:18">Luke 16.18</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_31"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.31" class="v40_5_31">31</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.31!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You have been taught that a man who divorces his wife must write out divorce papers for her.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.31!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v40_5_32"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.32" class="v40_5_32">32</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.32!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But I tell you not to divorce your wife unless she has committed some terrible sexual sin.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.32!f.2" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> If you divorce her, you will cause her to be unfaithful, just as any man who marries her is guilty of taking another man's wife.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Promises</h3><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_33"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.33" class="v40_5_33">33</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.33!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You know our ancestors were told, “Don't use the Lord's name to make a promise unless you are going to keep it.” </span><span class="v40_5_34"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.34" class="v40_5_34">34</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.34!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But I tell you not to swear by anything when you make a promise! Heaven is God's throne, so don't swear by heaven. </span><span class="v40_5_35"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.35" class="v40_5_35">35</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.35!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> The earth is God's footstool, so don't swear by the earth. Jerusalem is the city of the great king, so don't swear by it. </span><span class="v40_5_36"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.36" class="v40_5_36">36</span>Don't swear by your own head. You cannot make one hair white or black. </span><span class="v40_5_37"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.37" class="v40_5_37">37</span>When you make a promise, say only “Yes” or “No.” Anything else comes from the devil.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Revenge</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="LUK 6:29">Luke 6.29</ref>,<ref loc="LUK 6:30">30</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_38"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.38" class="v40_5_38">38</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.38!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You know you have been taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” </span><span class="v40_5_39"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.39" class="v40_5_39">39</span>But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek,<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.39!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> turn and let that person slap your other cheek. </span><span class="v40_5_40"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.40" class="v40_5_40">40</span>If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well. </span><span class="v40_5_41"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.41" class="v40_5_41">41</span>If a soldier forces you to carry his pack one kilometer, carry it two kilometers.<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.41!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> </span><span class="v40_5_42"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.42" class="v40_5_42">42</span>When people ask you for something, give it to them. When they want to borrow money, lend it to them.</span></p><h3 class="s1">Love</h3><h5 class="r">(<ref loc="LUK 6:27">Luke 6.27</ref>,<ref loc="LUK 6:28">28</ref>,<ref loc="LUK 6:32-36">32-36</ref>)</h5><p class="pi"><span class="v40_5_43"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.43" class="v40_5_43">43</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.43!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> You have heard people say, “Love your neighbors and hate your enemies.” </span><span class="v40_5_44"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.44" class="v40_5_44">44</span>But I tell you to love your enemies and pray for anyone who mistreats you. </span><span class="v40_5_45"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.45" class="v40_5_45">45</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.45!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> Then you will be acting like your Father in heaven. He makes the sun rise on both good and bad people. And he sends rain for the ones who do right and for the ones who do wrong. </span><span class="v40_5_46"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.46" class="v40_5_46">46</span>If you love only those people who love you, will God reward you for this? Even tax collectors<a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.46!f.1" class="notelink f-link"><span>+</span></a> love their friends. </span><span class="v40_5_47"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.47" class="v40_5_47">47</span>If you greet only your friends, what's so great about this? Don't even unbelievers do that? </span><span class="v40_5_48"><span class="reftext" id="Matt.5.48" class="v40_5_48">48</span><a href="#fn" id="link_Matt.5.48!x.1" class="notelink x-link"><span></span></a> But you must always act like your Father in heaven.</span></p></div> </div> <a name="fn"></a><br /><br /><br /><b>Footnotes:<br /><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.1 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">sat down: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Teachers in the ancient world, including Jewish teachers, usually sat down when they taught.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.3 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">They belong to the kingdom of heaven: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “The kingdom of heaven belongs to them.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.6 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">who want to obey him: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Or “who want to do right” or “who want everyone to be treated right.”</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.10 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">They belong to the kingdom of heaven: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">See the note at 5.3.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.17 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">the Law and the Prophets: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">The Jewish Scriptures, that is, the Old Testament.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.22 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">someone: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">In verses 22-24 the Greek text has “brother,” which may refer to people in general or to other followers.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.31 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">write out divorce papers for her: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">Jewish men could divorce their wives, but the women could not divorce their husbands. The purpose of writing these papers was to make it harder for a man to divorce his wife. Before this law was made, all a man had to do was to send his wife away and say that she was no longer his wife.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.32 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">some terrible sexual sin: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">This probably refers to the laws about the wrong kinds of marriages that are forbidden in Leviticus 18.6-18 or to some serious sexual sin.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.39 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">right cheek: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">A slap on the right cheek was a bad insult.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.41 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">two kilometers: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">A Roman soldier had the right to force a person to carry his pack as far as one kilometer.</char></note><br /><note caller="+" style="f"><char style="fr" closed="false">5.46 </char><char style="fq" closed="false">tax collectors: </char><char style="ft" closed="false">These were usually Jewish people who paid the Romans for the right to collect taxes. They were hated by other Jews who thought of them as traitors to their country and to their religion.</char></note></div></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div align="center"><p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Contemporary English Version, Second Edition (CEV®)</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">© 2006 American Bible Society. All rights reserved.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt;">Bible text from the Contemporary English Version 2nd Edition (CEV®) is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by American Bible Society, 101 North Independence Mall East, Floor 8, Philadelphia, PA 19106-2155 (<a href="http://www.americanbible.org">www.americanbible.org</a>). Learn more at <a href="http://www.cev.bible">www.cev.bible</a>. Discover .BIBLE resources for your ministry at <a href="http://www.get.bible/cev">www.get.bible/cev</a></span></p><br /><br /><a href="/">Bible Hub</a><br /><br /><br /></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="../matthew/4.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 4"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 4" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="../matthew/6.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 6"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 6" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="rightbox"><div class="padright"><div id="pic"><iframe width="100%" height="860" scrolling="no" src="//biblescan.com/mpc/matthew/5-1.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></div></div><div id="rightbox4"><div class="padright2"><div id="spons1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tr><td class="sp1"><iframe width="122" height="860" scrolling="no" src="../sidemenu.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhchapnoad.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>