Feb 13, 2023
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 5: 21-37
The Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said to
the disciples:] 21“You have
heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not
murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to
judgment.’ 22But I say to
you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be
liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will
be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be
liable to the hell of fire. 23So when you
are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your
brother or sister has something against
you, 24leave your
gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your
brother or sister, and then come and offer your
gift. 25Come to terms
quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with
him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the
guard, and you will be thrown into
prison. 26Truly I tell
you, you will never get out until you have paid the last
penny.
27“You have
heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit
adultery.’ 28But I say to
you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already
committed adultery with her in his
heart. 29If your right
eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away; it is better
for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be
thrown into hell. 30And 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 for your whole body
to go into hell.
31“It was also
said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of
divorce.’ 32But I say to
you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of
unchastity, causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a
divorced woman commits adultery.
33“Again, you
have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall
not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the
Lord.’ 34But I say to
you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of
God, 35or by the
earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city
of the great King. 36And do not
swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or
black. 37Let your word
be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the
evil one.”