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Do not suppose that I have come to subvert the law or the prophets: [fn] not to subvert, but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For verily I say to you, that until heaven and earth shall pass away, one iota or one letter shall not pass from the law, until all shall be fulfilled.¹⁹ Therefore whoever shall break one of these small commands and shall so inculcate on the children of men, shall be called little in the kingdom of heaven: but every one that shall do and teach [fn] , shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you, that unless your righteousness shall abound more than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

²¹ Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill: and every one that killeth, is obnoxious to judgment.²² But I say to you, That every one who is angry with his brother rashly, is obnoxious to judgment: and every one that saith to his brother, Raka! is obnoxious to the council: and every one that shall say, Fool is obnoxious to hell-fire.²³ If therefore thou shalt bring thy oblation to the altar, and shalt there remember that thy brother hath any offence against thee,²⁴ leave there thy oblation before the altar, and go first and be reconciled with thy brother; and then come and present thy oblation.²⁵ Be at agreement with thy prosecutor, forthwith, and while on the way with him; lest the prosecutor deliver thee up to the judge, and the Judge deliver thee over to the sheriff, and thou fall into the house of prisoners.²⁶ Verily I say to thee, Thou wilt not come out from there until thou hast paid the last farthing.

²⁷ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.²⁸ But I say to you, That whoever gazeth on a woman with concupiscence, at once committeth adultery with her in his heart.²⁹ If therefore thy right eye make thee offend, pluck it out, and cast it from thee; because it is better for thee that thy one member perish, than that thy whole body fall into hell.³⁰ And if thy right hand make thee offend, cut it off, and cast it from thee; because it is better for thee that one of thy members perish, than that thy whole body fall into hell.³¹ It hath been said, That if a man will put away his wife, he must give her a writing of divorcement.³² But I say to you, That whoever putteth away his wife, except for the offence of whoredom, causeth her to commit adultery: and he that taketh the divorced woman, committeth adultery.

³³ Again, ye have heard that it hath been said to the ancients, Thou shalt not be false in thy oaths; but thou shalt perform thine oaths to the Lord.³⁴ But I say to you, Swear not at all: not by heaven, for it is the throne of God:³⁵ and not by the earth, for it is the footstool under his feet: and likewise not by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king.³⁶ Moreover, thou shalt not swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair in it either black or white.³⁷ But let your language be, Yes, yes; or No, no; for whatever is beyond these proceedeth from evil.

³⁸ Ye have heard that it hath been said: An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.³⁹ But I say to you: Resist not evil; but if a person smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.⁴⁰ And if one is disposed to sue thee and get away thy coat, relinquish to him also thy cloak.⁴¹ Whoever compelleth thee to go one mile, go with him two.⁴² Whoever demandeth of thee, give to him: and whoever wisheth to borrow of thee, deny him not.

⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said: Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thy enemy.⁴⁴ But I say to you: Love your enemies; and bless him that curseth you; and do good to him that hateth you; and pray for them that lead you in bonds, and that persecute you:⁴⁵ that ye may be the children of your Father that is in heaven, who causeth his sun to rise upon the good and upon the bad, and sendeth his rain upon the righteous and upon the unrighteous.⁴⁶ For, if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans do this?⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye that is not common? Do not even publicans do this?⁴⁸ Be ye therefore perfect; even as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.