[Jesus continued:] ” But I say, do not make any vows! … And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is [God’s] footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or …
[Jesus continued:] “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.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.” —Matthew 5:33-34 NLT Key Thought When we tell God …
[Jesus continued:] “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’ But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.” —Matthew …
[After condemning lust, Jesus continued:] “So 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. And if your hand — even your …
[Jesus continued:] “You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” —Matthew 5:27-28 NLT Key Thought In an era where adultery is considered acceptable, or at least something to be ignored, …
[Jesus continued:] “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. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have …
[Jesus continued:] “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.” —Matthew 5:23-24 NLT Key Thought When we come …
[Jesus continued:] “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And …
[Jesus continued:] “But I warn you — unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!” —Matthew 5:20 NLT Key Thought Jesus repeatedly and even deliberately enters into conflict with the Pharisees and teachers of religious law (or scribes, …
[Jesus continued:] “So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.” —Matthew 5:19 NLT Key Thought Jesus did not come to …