Think not that I am come to abrogate the law, or the prophets: I am not come to abolish, but to compleat them: for verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot nor one tittle shall pass from the law, till all be compleated. read more. Whosoever therefore shall break one of the left of these commandments, and thereby teach men so to do, he shall be esteemed very little in the kingdom of heaven: but whoever shall do as well as teach them, he shall be accounted great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, that unless your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ye have heard, that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever committeth murder, shall be liable to the judgment: but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be liable to the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be obnoxious to the council; but whosoever shall say, "Thou fool," shall be in danger of hell-fire. Therefore, if thou bring thine offering to the altar, and there remembrest that thy brother hath any complaint against thee; leave thy gift there before the altar, and go and first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Be friends with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him; least the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison: verily, I say unto thee, thou shalt not come out from thence, till thou hast paid the very last farthing. Ye have heard, that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit adultery: but I tell you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, so as to lust after her, hath already debauched her in his heart. And therefore if thy right eye cause thee to offend, pluck it out and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee that one part of thee perish, than that thy whole body should be cast into hell: and if thy right hand cause thee to offend, cut it off and cast it from thee; for it is better for thee that one of thy limbs should perish, than that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And it has been said, whosoever would put away his wife, let him give her a bill of divorce: but I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his wife, except on account of whoredom, tempteth her to commit adultery; and if any man marry her that is divorced, he committeth adultery. Again, ye have heard, that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; 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 of it white or black: but let your conversation be yea, yea; no, no; for whatever is more than these, cometh from the evil one. Ye have heard, that it has been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: but I say unto you, Set not yourselves against him that injures you, but if any one smite thee on thy right cheek, rather turn to him the other also: and if any one would go to law with thee, to take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also, rather than strive with him: and if any one shall force thee one mile, go with him two. Give to him that asketh thee, and him, that would borrow of thee, turn not away. Ye have heard, that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy: but I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that abuse you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your heavenly Father; for He causeth his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain upon the just and the unjust. For if ye love only them that love you, what reward do ye expect? do not even the publicans the same? and if ye embrace your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not the publicans so likewise? Be ye therefore perfect in love and goodness, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Be ye therefore perfect in love and goodness, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Be ye therefore perfect in love and goodness, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Be ye therefore perfect in love and goodness, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

Be ye therefore perfect in love and goodness, as your Father who is in heaven is perfect.

All things therefore whatsoever ye would have men do to you, do ye also in like manner unto them: for this is the doctrine of the law and the prophets.

Then Peter came to Him and said, Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? to seven times? Jesus answereth him, I tell thee not, to seven times, but to seventy times seven.

Jesus replied, If thou wouldst be perfect, go, sell thy estate, and give it to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and follow me.

And as he went out into the way, there came one running and kneeling to Him, and asked Him, Good master, what shall I do, that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why dost thou call me good? there is none good, but one, that is God. read more. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he answered and said unto Him, Master, all these have I kept from my youth. Then Jesus looked upon him with affection, and said to him, One thing thou wantest; go, sell all that thou hast, and give it to the poor; and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross and follow me. But he was sad at that saying, and went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. And Jesus looking round about saith to his disciples, How difficultly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus repeating it, saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them, that trust in riches, to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were exceedingly amazed, saying one to another, Who then can be saved? But Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible. Then Peter said to Him, Behold we have left all, and followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I tell you, there is no one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundred-fold: now in this time indeed, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands with persecutions; but in the world to come life everlasting. But many that are first shall be last, and the last first.

And He said unto him, Thou hast answered right; do this and thou shalt live.

And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, Good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is God. read more. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, all these have I kept from my youth. But when Jesus heard these things He said unto him, Thou yet wantest one thing, Sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. But when he heard this, he was very sorrowful; for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, How difficultly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God? For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? But He answered, Things impossible with men are possible with God. Then said Peter, Behold, we have quitted all, and followed Thee. And He said unto them, Verily I tell you, there is no one that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive manifold more even in this life, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for to that all have sinned: for sin was in the world before the law. Now sin is not imputed where there is no law; read more. and yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned after the likeness of Adam's transgression, who is the type of Him that was to come. But not as the offence, so also is the free gift: for if through the offence of one many died, much more hath the grace of God, and the gift bestowed by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many. For the gift is not as the sentence was by one that sinned; for the sentence is passed from one offence to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences to justification. For if, by the offence of one, death reigned through one, much more they who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness, shall reign in life through one, even Jesus Christ. Therefore as by the offence of one the effect of it was upon all men to condemnation: so also by the righteousness of one, the effect was upon all men to justification of life. For as by the disobedience of one man many were made sinners; so by the obedience of One shall many be made righteous. Now the law made some entrance, that the offence might appear to abound; but where sin abounded, grace hath superabounded; that as sin had reigned in death, so grace might reign through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid! how shall we, who are dead to sin, live any longer therein? read more. Know ye not, that as many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we also should walk in newness of life: for if we have been planted together in the resemblance of his death, so shall we be also of his resurrection. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that we might no longer be inslaved to sin: for he that is thus dead with Christ, is delivered from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him: knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more power over Him: for as He died, He died once for all on account of sin; but as He liveth, He liveth unto God. So also do ye reckon yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from this body of death? The grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with my mind I serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if the Spirit of God dwelleth in you: but if any one hath not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may experience what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

Let love be unfeigned. Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good;

Owe no one any thing, but to love one another; for he that loveth others hath fulfilled the law: for this command, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and every other social precept, is summed up in this, namely, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself." read more. Love worketh no evil to our neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And this let us observe, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us behave decently as being in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lasciviousness, not in strife and envying. But put on the Lord Jesus, and make not provision for the flesh to gratify its irregular desires.

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye would all say alike, and that there may be no schisms among you, but that ye be perfectly united in the same mind and in the same judgement.

Yet we speak true wisdom among the perfect: though not the wisdom of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who come to nought.

And I, my brethren, could not speak to you, as to spiritual persons, but as to carnal ones, even as to babes in Christ.

My brethren, be not children in sense: but in malice be infants, and in your judgements shew yourselves to be men.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering,

And they, that are Christ's, have crucified the flesh with it's passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and on earth is named, read more. that He would grant you, according to his glorious riches, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit, as to the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith: and be ye rooted and grounded in love, that ye may be able, with all the saints, to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which surpasseth knowledge; that ye may be filled according to the abundant fulness of God. Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power operating in us,

Now to Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think, according to the power operating in us,

endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace: for there is but one body and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; read more. one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

in the vanity of their mind, darkened in their understanding, and alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, by reason of the hardness of their heart:

Be ye therefore imitators of God as his dear children; and walk in love,

being confident of this, that He who hath begun a good work in you will continue to perfect it till the day of Jesus Christ.

for it is God that worketh in you both to will, and to work, out of his own good-pleasure.

not that I have yet won the prize, or am already perfect: but I press forward to acquire that perfection, for which also I have been apprehended by Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, attend to this: and if in any thing ye think differently, God will reveal this also unto you.

Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. read more. Be anxious in nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known before God. And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally my brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are venerable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are friendly, whatever things are reputable, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things: and what ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, these practise; and the God of peace will be with you.

I can do all things through Christ strengthening me.

who also declared unto us your love in the Spirit. For this cause we also, from the day that we heard it, cease not to pray for you, and to request that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding:

For this cause we also, from the day that we heard it, cease not to pray for you, and to request that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will, in all wisdom and spiritual understanding: that ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; read more. strengthened with all might according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet for a portion of the inheritance of the saints in light: who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son: in whom we have redemption by his blood, even the remission of sins. Who is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of the whole creation: for by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are on the earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all were created by Him, and for Him. He is before all, and by Him all things subsist. And He is the head of the body, which is the church: who is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things He might have the pre-eminence. For it pleased the Father, that all fulness should dwell in Him; and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace by the blood of his cross; by Him only, whether they be things on earth, or things in heaven. And you that were formerly alienated, and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you holy, and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight: if so be ye continue grounded and settled in the faith, and be not moved from the gospel, which ye have heard, and which hath been preached throughout the whole creation, of which I Paul am a minister.

whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

And above all these put on love, which is the band of perfection.

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you; who always strives earnestly for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God:

For it became Him for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect by sufferings:

He became the author of eternal salvation to all that obey Him:

Concerning whom we have much to say and difficult to be explained, since ye are become dull of hearing.

Wherefore omitting the discourse about the first principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us proceed to perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works,

Now if perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law) what farther need was there that another priest should arise after the order of Melchisedec, and not after the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, there is of necessity a change also of the law. read more. Now He, of whom these things are said, is of another tribe, of which none ever attended at the altar.. For it is evident that our Lord sprang from Judah, as to which tribe Moses spake nothing about the priesthood. And it is yet more abundantly evident, that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest, who is made not according to the law of a temporary command, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. For there is indeed a disannulling of the preceding command, on account of it's weakness and unprofitableness; for the law made nothing perfect, but the introducing of a better hope did, by which we draw near to God.

For the law appointeth men high-priests, who have infirmity; but the oath, recorded since the law, appointeth the Son to be priest for ever, being fully perfected for it.

Which figure remains to the present time, wherein gifts and sacrifices are offered, that cannot perfect the worshipper as to his conscience,

For by one offering He hath perfected for ever those that are sanctified.

God having provided something better concerning us, that without us they might not be made perfect.

to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the just made perfect,

make you perfect in every good work, to do his will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

but let patience have it's perfect work, that ye may be entirely perfect, failing in nothing.

and every perfect gift, but no evil one, is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation, nor shadow of turning:

But he that looketh well into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

and if any offend not in word, he is a compleat man, able to manage also the whole body.

whom having not seen ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing ye rejoice with joy ineffable and full of glory; receiving the end of your faith,