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Jesus and the Law

Do not think that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets. I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.

I tell you this: as long as heaven and earth last, not the smallest letter or dot in the law will change until everything is fulfilled.

So then, whoever breaks the least important of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys them and teaches others to do the same will be great in the kingdom of heaven.

I tell you, if your sense of right and wrong isn’t sharper than that of the lawyers and the Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Regarding Offense

You have heard that it was said to our ancestors: Do not murder; anyone who murders will face judgment.

But now I tell you: anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will face judgment. Anyone who insults a brother or sister is in danger of being brought before the council. And anyone who calls a brother or sister “Fool!” is in danger of being thrown into the fiery Gehenna.

So, if you are about to offer your gift at the altar and remember that your brother has something against you,

leave your gift there in front of the altar; go at once and make peace with your brother, then come back and offer your gift to God.

Don’t forget this: reconcile with your opponent quickly when you’re together on the way to court. Otherwise, he will turn you over to the judge, who will send you to the police, and you’ll be put in jail.

There you will stay until you’ve paid the last penny.

Regarding Divorce

You have heard that it was said: Do not commit adultery.

But I tell you this: anyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

So, if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.

If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.

Regarding Oaths

It was also said: Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a written notice of divorce.

But I tell you this: if a man divorces his wife, except for the reason of an unlawful union, he causes her to commit adultery. And the man who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

You have also heard that people were told in the past: Do not break your oath; an oath sworn to the Lord must be kept.

But I tell you this: do not take oaths. Do not swear by the heavens, for they are God’s throne;

nor by the earth, because it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great king.

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

Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more than this comes from the evil one.