Study Desk

"But I say to you who listen: Love your enemies, do what is good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.^(x)

If anyone hits you on the cheek,^(y) offer the other also. And if anyone takes away your coat, don't hold back your shirt either.

Give to everyone who asks you, and from one who takes your things, don't ask for them back.

Just as you want others to do for you, do the same for them.^(z)

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.^(aa)

If you do what is good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?^(ab) Even sinners lend to sinners to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do what is good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High.^(ac) For He is gracious to the ungrateful and evil.

Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. ^(ad)

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged.^(ae) Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.^(af)

Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over—will be poured into your lap.^(ag) For with the measure you use,^[g] it will be measured back to you." ^(ah)

He also told them a parable: "Can the blind guide the blind? Won't they both fall into a pit?^(ai)

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. ^(aj)

"Why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but don't notice the log in your own eye?

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,' when you yourself don't see the log in your eye? Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck in your brother's eye.

"A good tree doesn't produce bad fruit; on the other hand, a bad tree doesn't produce good fruit.^(ak)

For each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs aren't gathered from thornbushes, or grapes picked from a bramble bush.

A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.

"Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,' and don't do the things I say?^(al)

I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and acts on them:^(am)

He is like a man building a house, who dug deep^[h] and laid the foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the river crashed against that house and couldn't shake it, because it was well built.

But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The river crashed against it, and immediately it collapsed. And the destruction of that house was great!" ^(an)