“It was said also, ’Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement:’  but I say unto you, that every one that putteth away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, maketh her an adulteress:  and whosoever shall marry her when she is put away committeth adultery.

“Again, ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, ’Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths:’  but I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by the heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.  Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst not make one hair white or black.  But let your speech be, ‘Yea, yea; Nay, nay:’  and whatsoever is more than these is of the evil one.

“Ye have heard that it was said, ’An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:’  but I say unto you, Resist not him that is evil:  but whosoever smiteth thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if any man would go to law with thee, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.  And whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.  Give to every one that asketh thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.  All things therefore whatsoever ye would that men should do unto you, even so do ye also unto them:  for this is the law and the prophets.

“Ye have heard that it was said, ’Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy:’  but I say unto you, Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, pray for them that despitefully use you, that ye may be sons of your Father who is in heaven:  for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.  For if ye love them that love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the Gentiles the same?  And if ye do good to them that do good to you, what thank have ye? for even sinners do the same.  And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? even sinners lend to sinners, to receive again as much.  But love your enemies, and do them good, and lend, never despairing; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be sons of the Most High:  for he is kind toward the unthankful and evil.  Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

THE DANGER OF HYPOCRISY.

“Take heed that ye do not your righteousness before men, to be seen of them:  else ye have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.

“When therefore thou doest alms, sound not a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men.  Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.  But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:  that thine alms may be in secret:  and thy Father who seeth in secret shall recompense thee.