Welcome to Bible at Bedtime, a podcast where I, Amber Lawton, read Bible passages to help you fall asleep. For tonight's reading, I'm going to read from Matthew 5 in the New King James Version first, and then I will read in the Passion Translation. so go ahead find a comfortable position allow yourself to relax taking a few deep breaths and just allow the Lord to speak to you through his word Matthew 5 Beatitudes And seeing the multitudes, he went up on a mountain, and when he was seated, his disciples came to him. Then he opened his mouth and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake For theirs is the kingdom of heaven Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you And say all kinds of evil against you falsely for my sake rejoice and be exceedingly glad for great is your reward in heaven for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you believers are salt and light you are the salt of the earth but if the salt loses its flavor how shall it be seasoned it is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men you are the light of the world a city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Christ fulfills the law. Do not think that I came to destroy the law or the prophets I did not come to destroy but to fulfill For assuredly I say to you Till heaven and earth pass away One jot or one tittle Will by no means pass from the law Till all is fulfilled whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven but whoever does and teaches them he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Murder Begins in the Heart You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, Raka, shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, you fool, shall be in danger of hellfire. therefore if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you leave your gift there before the altar and go your way first be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift agree with your adversary quickly while you are on the way with him lest your adversary deliver you to the judge The judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. assuredly I say to you you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny you have heard that it was said to those of old you shall not commit adultery but I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you, or it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish. than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Marriage is sacred and binding Furthermore, it has been said Whoever divorces his wife Let him give her a certificate of divorce But I say to you That whoever divorces his wife For any reason Except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery. And whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, you shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord. but I say to you do not swear at all neither by heaven for it is God's throne nor by the earth for it is his footstool nor by Jerusalem for it is the city of the great king nor shall you swear by your head because you cannot make one hair white or black but let your yes be yes and your no, no for whatever is more than these is from the evil one go the second mile you have heard that it was said an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth but I tell you not to resist an evil person but whoever slaps you on your right cheek turn the other to him also if anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic let him have your cloak also and whoever compels you to go one mile go with him too give to him who asks you and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away love your enemies you have heard that it was said You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy But I say to you, love your enemies Bless those who curse you Do good to those who hate you And pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and on the unjust and now Matthew 5 the Passion Translation One day, Jesus saw a vast crowd of people gathering to hear him, so he went up the slope of a hill and sat down. With his followers and disciples spread over the hillside, Jesus began to teach them. What happiness comes to you when you feel your spiritual poverty? for yours is the realm of heaven's kingdom. What delight comes to you when you wait upon the Lord, for you will find what you long for. What blessing comes to you when gentleness lives in you, for you will inherit the earth. How enriched you are when you crave righteousness, for you will be satisfied. How blessed you are when you demonstrate tender mercy, for tender mercy will be demonstrated to you. What bliss you experience when your heart is pure for then your eyes will open to see more and more of God How joyful you are when you make peace, for then you will be recognized as a true child of God. How enriched you are when persecuted for doing what is right, for then you experience the realm of heaven's kingdom. How blessed you are when people insult and persecute you and speak all kinds of cruel lies about you because of your love for me. So leap for joy since your heavenly reward is great. For you are being rejected the same way the prophets were before you. Your lives are like salt among the people. But if you like salt, become bland, how can your saltiness be restored? Flavorless salt is good for nothing and will be thrown out and trampled on by others. your lives light up the world for how can you hide a city that stands on a hilltop and then who would light a lamp and then hide it in an obscure place instead it's placed where everyone in the house can benefit from its light. So don't hide your light. Let it shine brightly before others so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them. And then they will give their praise to your Father in Heaven. Fulfillment of the Law If you think I've come to set aside the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets, you are mistaken. I have come to bring to perfection all that has been written. indeed I assure you as long as heaven and earth endure not even the smallest detail of the law will be done away with until its purpose is complete so whoever violates even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in heaven's kingdom. But whoever obeys them and teaches their truths to others will be called great in heaven's kingdom. For I tell you, unless your lives are more pure and full of integrity, than the religious scholars and the Pharisees, you will never enter heaven's kingdom. Anger. You are familiar with the commandment taught to those of old. Do not murder or you will be judged. but I'm telling you if you hold anger in your heart toward a fellow believer you are subject to judgment and whoever demeans and insults a fellow believer is answerable to the congregation and whoever calls down curses upon a fellow believer is in danger of being sent to a fiery hell. So then, if you are presenting a gift before the altar and suddenly you remember a quarrel you have with a fellow believer, leave your gift there in front of the altar and go at once to apologize to the one who is offended. Then, after you have reconciled, come to the altar and present your gift. It is always better to come to terms with the one who wants to sue you before you go to trial. or you may be found guilty by the judge, and he will hand you over to the officers who will throw you into prison. Believe me, you won't get out of prison until you have paid the full amount. Adultery Your ancestors have been taught never commit adultery. However, I say to you if you look with lust in your eyes at a woman who is not your wife You already committed adultery in your heart If your right eye seduces you to fall into sin then go blind in your right eye For you're better off losing sight in one eye than to have your whole body thrown into hell. And if your right hand entices you to sin, let it go limp and useless. for you are better off losing a part of your body than to have it all thrown into hell. It has been said, whoever divorces his wife must give her legal divorce papers. however I say to you if anyone divorces his wife for any reason except for infidelity he causes her to commit adultery and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery making oaths. Again, your ancestors were taught to never swear an oath that you don't intend to keep, but keep your vows to the Lord God. However, I say to you, don't bind yourself by taking an oath at all. Don't swear by heaven, for heaven is where God's throne is placed. Don't swear an oath by the earth because it is the rug under God's feet and not by Jerusalem because it is the city of the great king. And why would you swear by your own head, because it's not in your power, to turn a single hair white or black. But just let your words ring true. A simple yes or no will suffice. anything beyond this springs from a deceiver your ancestors have also been taught take an eye in exchange for an eye and a tooth in exchange for a tooth however, I say to you don't repay an evil act with another evil act. But whoever insults you by slapping you on the right cheek, turn the other to him as well. If someone is determined to sue you For your coat, give him the shirt off your back as a gift in return. And should people in authority take advantage of you, do more than what they demand. Learn to generously share what you have with those who ask for help. and don't close your heart to the one who comes to borrow from you. Love your enemies. Your ancestors have also been taught, love your neighbors and hate the one who hates you. however I say to you love your enemy bless the one who curses you do something wonderful for the one who hates you and respond to the very ones who persecute you by praying for them for that will reveal your identity as children of your heavenly father. He is kind to all by bringing the sunrise to warm and rainfall to refresh whether a person does what is good or evil. what reward do you deserve if you only love the lovable don't even the tax collectors do that how are you any different from others if you limit your kindness only to your friends don't even the ungodly do that. Since you are the children of a perfect father in heaven, become perfect like him. By now, you should be sleeping or relaxed. And if you are not, you can restart this episode and listen to the word once again. That concludes Matthew 5. Have a restful evening.
