The Sermon on the Plain

¹⁷Jesus came down the mountain with them and stood on a level area. A large crowd of his disciples was there, along with a huge number of people from all over Judaea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. ¹⁸Those tormented by unclean spirits were also healed. ¹⁹The entire crowd was trying to touch him, because virtue was flowing out of him and healing everyone. ²⁰Jesus looked up at his disciples and said, "Blessed are you who are poor, because the kingdom of God belongs to you. ²¹Blessed are you who are hungry now, because you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, because you will laugh. ²²Blessed are you when people hate you, shut you out, insult you, and reject your name as evil — all because of the Son of Man. ²³When that happens, rejoice! Jump for joy! Your reward in heaven is great. After all, their ancestors treated the prophets the same way. ²⁴But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. ²⁵Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. ²⁶Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets. ²⁷But to those of you who are listening, I say this: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. ²⁸Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. ²⁹If someone strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one too. If someone takes your cloak, don't stop them from taking your coat as well. ³⁰Give to everyone who asks you, and if someone takes what belongs to you, don't demand it back. ³¹Treat others the way you want them to treat you. ³²If you only love people who love you back, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. ³³If you only do good to people who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that much. ³⁴If you only lend to people you expect to pay you back, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. ³⁵Instead, love your enemies, do good, and lend without expecting anything in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind even to the ungrateful and the evil. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. ³⁷Don't judge others, and you won't be judged. Don't condemn others, and you won't be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸“Give, and it will be given to you. People will pour into your lap a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over. The same measure you use will be used to measure back to you.” ³⁹He also told them a parable: "Can a blind person lead another blind person? Won't they both fall into a pit? ⁴⁰A student isn't above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will become like his teacher. ⁴¹Why do you notice the tiny speck in your brother's eye but ignore the wooden beam in your own? ⁴²How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me get that speck out of your eye,' when you can't even see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you'll be able to see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. ⁴³A good tree doesn't produce rotten fruit, and a rotten tree doesn't produce good fruit. ⁴⁴Every tree is identified by its own fruit. You don't pick figs from thornbushes, and you don't harvest grapes from a bramble bush. ⁴⁵A good person brings forth good things from the good treasure of their heart, and an evil person brings forth evil things from the evil treasure of their heart. For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. ⁴⁶Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' but don't do what I say? ⁴⁷Let me show you what it's like when someone comes to me, hears my words, and puts them into practice. ⁴⁸That person is like someone building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on solid rock. When a flood came, the stream beat strongly against that house, but it couldn't be shaken, because it was founded on rock. ⁴⁹But the person who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream struck it, the house immediately fell, and the ruin of that house was great.