independentparticipialrelativepurposecausecomparativecontentconditionalphrase modifierdashed = verbless / suspended
Flush-left = a main (independent) clause. Each dependent line begins directly beneath the word it attaches to in the line above — the anchor word is dotted-underlined, and lights up when you hover its dependent clause; each tag also names the attachment. A dashed border marks verbless, elliptical, or suspended lines. Where a long sentence's staircase runs wider than the page, the diagram scrolls sideways. (In print, or without JavaScript, lines fall back to stepped indent columns.)
The Sermon on the Mount — Beatitudes, salt and light, the Law fulfilled, and the six antitheses 5:1–48
vv. 1–2 — the narrative frame: the mountain, the seated teacher, the opened mouth
1
Ἰδὼν δὲ τοὺς ὄχλουςparticipial — antecedent aorist leaning forward on ἀνέβη — the crowds of 4:25 occasion the ascent
ἀνέβη εἰς τὸ ὄρος,independent — ἀναβαίνω evokes Moses ascending Sinai — the new-Sinai frame of the Sermon
καὶ καθίσαντος αὐτοῦparticipial — genitive absolute leaning forward on προσῆλθαν — the seated posture of formal teaching
προσῆλθαν αὐτῷ οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ·independent — the inner audience gathers — though 7:28 will reveal the crowds listening all along
2
καὶ ἀνοίξας τὸ στόμα αὐτοῦparticipial — leans forward on ἐδίδασκεν — the solemn Semitism prefacing weighty utterance
ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων·independent — inceptive imperfect with recitative λέγων — the anchor of the whole sermon: every spoken line below hangs here
vv. 3–10 — the eight Beatitudes: a coordinate μακάριοι column, each with its ὅτι-ground
3
Μακάριοι οἱ πτωχοὶ τῷ πνεύματι,content — the first Beatitude, verbless — μακάριος a divine verdict of favor, not mere felicitation; dative of respect
ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.cause — present ἐστιν — the kingdom already theirs; the clause returns at v. 10 as inclusio
4
μακάριοι οἱ πενθοῦντες,content — the second — πενθέω, deep lamentation over sin and the world's brokenness
ὅτι αὐτοὶ παρακληθήσονται.cause — divine passive, eschatological future — God himself will comfort; emphatic αὐτοί
5
μακάριοι οἱ πραεῖς,content — the third — πραΰς, strength under control; echoing Ps 37:11 LXX
ὅτι αὐτοὶ κληρονομήσουσιν τὴν γῆν.cause — covenant-inheritance language — the promised land widened to the renewed creation
6
μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην,content — the fourth — δικαιοσύνην the whole-object accusative of both participles; the Matthean key term
ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται.cause — χορτάζω — full satisfaction; divine passive again
7
μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες,content — the fifth — ἐλεήμων, active compassion shown
ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται.cause — the lex talionis of grace — mercy answered with God's mercy
8
μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ,content — the sixth — undivided inner integrity; dative of respect again
ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται.cause — the beatific vision — Israel's supreme hope, with τὸν θεόν fronted
9
μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί,content — the seventh — εἰρηνοποιός, a NT hapax: makers, not merely lovers, of peace
ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται.cause — divine passive καλέω — acknowledged as bearing the Father's family likeness (cf. v. 45)
10
μακάριοι οἱ δεδιωγμένοι ἕνεκεν δικαιοσύνης,content — the eighth — perfect δεδιωγμένοι, the settled state of the persecuted
ὅτι αὐτῶν ἐστιν ἡ βασιλεία τῶν οὐρανῶν.cause — the inclusio with v. 3 closes the octave — present possession frames the futures
vv. 11–12 — the ninth Beatitude turns to direct address
11
μακάριοί ἐστεcontent — the ninth breaks the pattern into second person — the persecuted disciples themselves
ὅταν ὀνειδίσωσιν ὑμᾶςconditional — temporal ὅταν (typed cnd; backward, so anchored) — generic aorist subjunctive
καὶ διώξωσινconditional — the octave's διώκω taken up and applied
καὶ εἴπωσιν πᾶν πονηρὸν καθ' ὑμῶν ψευδόμενοι ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ.conditional — ψευδόμενοι — the slander untrue; ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ the striking christological ground: for Jesus' sake
12
χαίρετεcontent — present imperative — keep on rejoicing
καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθε,content — ἀγαλλιάω — exuberant, demonstrative joy under persecution
ὅτι ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολὺς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς·cause — verbless ground — the recompense stored with God
οὕτως γὰρ ἐδίωξαν τοὺς προφήτας τοὺς πρὸ ὑμῶν.cause — the reward-claim grounded in prophetic solidarity — the disciples stand in the prophets' line
vv. 13–16 — salt and light: the emphatic Ὑμεῖς-ἐστε pair
13
Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ ἅλας τῆς γῆς·content — emphatic Ὑμεῖς — you and no others; salt as preserving and seasoning presence
ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας μωρανθῇ,conditional — third-class protasis leaning forward on ἁλισθήσεται — μωραίνω, literally 'be made foolish'
ἐν τίνι ἁλισθήσεται;content — the rhetorical apodosis — savorless salt cannot be restored
εἰς οὐδὲν ἰσχύει ἔτιcontent — the verdict — ἰσχύω, of remaining usefulness
εἰ μὴ βληθὲν ἔξω καταπατεῖσθαι ὑπὸ τῶν ἀνθρώπων.conditional — exceptive εἰ μή (backward, so anchored) — the only remaining 'use': the street
14
Ὑμεῖς ἐστε τὸ φῶς τοῦ κόσμου.content — the second identification — objective genitive: light for the world
οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω ὄρους κειμένη·content — the proverb of inevitable visibility — the attributive κειμένη kept in its clause
15
οὐδὲ καίουσιν λύχνονcontent — impersonal gnomic plural — the household oil-lamp
καὶ τιθέασιν αὐτὸν ὑπὸ τὸν μόδιονcontent — μόδιος, the peck-measure — light kindled to be smothered is absurd
ἀλλ' ἐπὶ τὴν λυχνίαν,content — elliptical antithesis — τιθέασιν carried over
καὶ λάμπει πᾶσιν τοῖς ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ.content — the lamp's proper end — light for the whole house
16
οὕτως λαμψάτω τὸ φῶς ὑμῶν ἔμπροσθεν τῶν ἀνθρώπων,content — οὕτως draws the application from both images — third-person imperative
ὅπως ἴδωσιν ὑμῶν τὰ καλὰ ἔργαpurpose — what is displayed is works, not selves
καὶ δοξάσωσιν τὸν πατέρα ὑμῶν τὸν ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς.purpose — the true aim — the first 'your Father in heaven' of the Gospel
vv. 17–20 — the thesis on the Law: fulfillment, permanence, the greater righteousness
17
Μὴ νομίσητεcontent — prohibitive aorist — do not even begin to suppose
ὅτι ἦλθον καταλῦσαι τὸν νόμον ἢ τοὺς προφήτας·content — ἦλθον, the mission-formula — the Law and the Prophets as the whole Scripture
οὐκ ἦλθον καταλῦσαιcontent — the denial restated in his own voice
ἀλλὰ πληρῶσαι.content — elliptical — ἦλθον carried over; πληρόω, to bring to intended fullness: the programmatic word
18
ἀμὴν γὰρ λέγω ὑμῖν·cause — the ἀμήν-formula grounds the fulfillment claim with Jesus' own solemn authority
ἕως ἂν παρέλθῃ ὁ οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ γῆ,conditional — temporal ἕως ἄν (typed cnd) leaning forward on the οὐ-μή clause
ἰῶτα ἓν ἢ μία κεραία οὐ μὴ παρέλθῃ ἀπὸ τοῦ νόμου,content — emphatic οὐ μή — the smallest letter and the pen-stroke abide
ἕως ἂν πάντα γένηται.conditional — the second ἕως ἄν (backward, so anchored) — until the Law's whole purpose comes to pass
19
ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστωνrelative — indefinite relative as virtual protasis — leans forward on κληθήσεται; λύω, to set aside
καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους,relative — coordinate in the protasis — doing and teaching travel together
ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν·content — the penalty in kind — ἐλάχιστος for the relaxer of the ἐλάχισται; lowest rank, not exclusion
ὃς δ' ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ,relative — the paired case, likewise leaning forward on κληθήσεται
οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.content — resumptive οὗτος — divine passive καλέω: rank as God's own reckoning
20
λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν ὅτιcause — γάρ grounds the ranking in the entrance-requirement itself — recitative ὅτι
ἐὰν μὴ περισσεύσῃ ὑμῶν ἡ δικαιοσύνη πλεῖον τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων,conditional — negated third-class protasis leaning forward — περισσεύω, the surplus the antitheses will define
οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.content — emphatic οὐ μή — the programmatic demand that heads the six antitheses
vv. 21–26 — first antithesis: murder radicalized to anger; the altar and the road to court
21
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις·content — the antithesis-formula — ἐρρέθη a divine passive: said by God at Sinai, heard in the synagogue
οὐ φονεύσεις·content — Exod 20:13 — the sixth commandment, imperatival future
ὃς δ' ἂν φονεύσῃ,relative — indefinite relative leaning forward on ἔνοχος ἔσται
ἔνοχος ἔσται τῇ κρίσει.content — the juridical sanction — κρίσις, the local court
22
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖνcontent — the counter-formula — emphatic ἐγώ set against ἐρρέθη: Jesus' word beside God's
ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ὀργιζόμενος τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ ἔνοχος ἔσται τῇ κρίσει·content — anger itself now stands where murder stood — εἰκῇ ('without cause') omitted with the earliest witnesses as a softening gloss
ὃς δ' ἂν εἴπῃ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ· ῥακά,relative — leans forward on ἔνοχος ἔσται — ῥακά, Aramaic 'empty-head': contempt in a word
ἔνοχος ἔσται τῷ συνεδρίῳ·content — the ascending tribunal — from local court to supreme council
ὃς δ' ἂν εἴπῃ· μωρέ,relative — the third case leaning forward — μωρέ, the vocative insult
ἔνοχος ἔσται εἰς τὴν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός.content — the triad peaks past every human court — the Gehenna of fire
23
ἐὰν οὖν προσφέρῃς τὸ δῶρόν σου ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριονconditional — third-class protasis leaning forward on ἄφες — the application (οὖν) moves to the temple
κἀκεῖ μνησθῇςconditional — coordinate in the protasis — the memory strikes mid-worship
ὅτι ὁ ἀδελφός σου ἔχει τι κατὰ σοῦ,content — the grievance is the brother's — reconciliation is owed even by the offender's reckoning
24
ἄφες ἐκεῖ τὸ δῶρόν σου ἔμπροσθεν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίουcontent — the apodosis-imperative — worship interrupted
καὶ ὕπαγεcontent — the errand outranks the offering
πρῶτον διαλλάγηθι τῷ ἀδελφῷ σου,content — πρῶτον states the priority — διαλλάσσομαι, the relationship restored
καὶ τότε ἐλθὼν πρόσφερε τὸ δῶρόν σου.content — the worship resumed — the gift now acceptable
25
ἴσθι εὐνοῶν τῷ ἀντιδίκῳ σου ταχὺcontent — periphrastic imperative ἴσθι εὐνοῶν — a sustained disposition of settlement
ἕως ὅτου εἶ μετ' αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ,conditional — temporal ἕως ὅτου (typed cnd; backward, so anchored) — settle before the courthouse door
μήποτέ σε παραδῷ ὁ ἀντίδικος τῷ κριτῇpurpose — the feared chain begins — παραδίδωμι, the hand-over
καὶ ὁ κριτὴς τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ,purpose — elliptical — παραδῷ carried over; the machinery moves by itself
καὶ εἰς φυλακὴν βληθήσῃ·purpose — the chain ends in prison — future indicative inside the μήποτε clause
26
ἀμὴν λέγω σοι,content — the ἀμήν-seal, now in the singular — the parable pressed on each hearer
οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃς ἐκεῖθεν,content — emphatic οὐ μή — no escape
ἕως ἂν ἀποδῷς τὸν ἔσχατον κοδράντην.conditional — temporal ἕως ἄν (anchored) — the quadrans, Rome's smallest coin: payment in full
vv. 27–30 — second antithesis: adultery radicalized to the lustful look; the eye and the hand
27
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη·content — the formula repeated, without 'to the ancients'
οὐ μοιχεύσεις.content — Exod 20:14 — the seventh commandment
28
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖνcontent — the counter-formula again
ὅτι πᾶς ὁ βλέπων γυναῖκα πρὸς τὸ ἐπιθυμῆσαι αὐτὴν ἤδη ἐμοίχευσεν αὐτὴν ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ αὐτοῦ.content — πρὸς τό + infinitive of purpose — the look aimed at desire; ἤδη ἐμοίχευσεν, the deed already done within
29
εἰ δὲ ὁ ὀφθαλμός σου ὁ δεξιὸς σκανδαλίζει σε,conditional — first-class protasis leaning forward on ἔξελε — the eye of v. 28's look
ἔξελε αὐτὸνcontent — the hyperbole of decisive self-denial
καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ·content — the second imperative — total renunciation
συμφέρει γάρ σοιcause — the prudential calculus — συμφέρω, the true advantage
ἵνα ἀπόληται ἓν τῶν μελῶν σουcontent — ἵνα-content of συμφέρει — the part surrendered
καὶ μὴ ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου βληθῇ εἰς γέενναν.content — the whole preserved — Gehenna again as the real stake
30
καὶ εἰ ἡ δεξιά σου χεὶρ σκανδαλίζει σε,conditional — the parallel case leaning forward on ἔκκοψον — from the eye that looks to the hand that acts
ἔκκοψον αὐτὴνcontent — ἐκκόπτω — the refrain varied
καὶ βάλε ἀπὸ σοῦ·content — word for word with v. 29
συμφέρει γάρ σοιcause — the identical ground
ἵνα ἀπόληται ἓν τῶν μελῶν σουcontent — the refrain again
καὶ μὴ ὅλον τὸ σῶμά σου εἰς γέενναν ἀπέλθῃ.content — ἀπέλθῃ varying βληθῇ — the one ripple in the doubled saying
vv. 31–32 — third antithesis: the divorce concession and the exceptive clause
31
Ἐρρέθη δέ·content — the formula compressed to two words — the concession cited briefly
ὃς ἂν ἀπολύσῃ τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ,relative — leaning forward on δότω — the case of Deut 24:1
δότω αὐτῇ ἀποστάσιον.content — Deut 24:1 — the ἀποστάσιον regulated, not blessed, the dismissal
32
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖνcontent — the counter-formula
ὅτι πᾶς ὁ ἀπολύων τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας ποιεῖ αὐτὴν μοιχευθῆναι,content — the exceptive παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας — the famous crux: marital unfaithfulness or unlawful union; left open
καὶ ὃς ἐὰν ἀπολελυμένην γαμήσῃrelative — leaning forward on μοιχᾶται — the perfect participle: a woman standing dismissed
μοιχᾶται.content — one gnomic verb closes the ruling
vv. 33–37 — fourth antithesis: oaths abolished for plain speech
33
Πάλιν ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη τοῖς ἀρχαίοις·content — Πάλιν marks a new panel — the full formula returns
οὐκ ἐπιορκήσεις,content — Lev 19:12 — the perjury-law
ἀποδώσεις δὲ τῷ κυρίῳ τοὺς ὅρκους σου.content — Num 30:2; Deut 23:21 — vows owed to the Lord
34
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖνcontent — the counter-formula
μὴ ὀμόσαι ὅλως·content — the imperatival infinitive — not truer oaths but none
μήτε ἐν τῷ οὐρανῷ,phrase modifier — the first forbidden formula — ἐν of the thing sworn by
ὅτι θρόνος ἐστὶν τοῦ θεοῦ,cause — Isa 66:1 — the evasive oath still lands on God
35
μήτε ἐν τῇ γῇ,phrase modifier — the second forbidden formula
ὅτι ὑποπόδιόν ἐστιν τῶν ποδῶν αὐτοῦ,cause — Isa 66:1 again — throne and footstool belong to one throne-room
μήτε εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα,phrase modifier — the third — εἰς varying ἐν
ὅτι πόλις ἐστὶν τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως,cause — Ps 48:2 — the great King is God
36
μήτε ἐν τῇ κεφαλῇ σου ὀμόσῃς,content — the μήτε-chain acquires its own finite verb — the oath by one's own person
ὅτι οὐ δύνασαι μίαν τρίχα λευκὴν ποιῆσαι ἢ μέλαιναν.cause — even the head is not yours to pledge — nothing about it lies in your power
37
ἔστω δὲ ὁ λόγος ὑμῶν ναὶ ναί, οὒ οὔ·content — the positive replacement — plain speech that needs no oath to be believed
τὸ δὲ περισσὸν τούτων ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ ἐστιν.content — the verdict — ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ: 'the evil one' (or neuter 'evil'); the surplus betrays distrust
vv. 38–42 — fifth antithesis: the lex talionis yields to non-resistance
38
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη·content — the formula, short form again
ὀφθαλμὸν ἀντὶ ὀφθαλμοῦcontent — Exod 21:24; Lev 24:20; Deut 19:21 — the talionic formula, verbless
καὶ ὀδόντα ἀντὶ ὀδόντος.content — proportionate retribution — the law that limited vengeance
39
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖνcontent — the counter-formula
μὴ ἀντιστῆναι τῷ πονηρῷ·content — the imperatival infinitive again — τῷ πονηρῷ here the evildoer, not the devil
ἀλλ' ὅστις σε ῥαπίζει εἰς τὴν δεξιὰν σιαγόνα σου,relative — leaning forward on στρέψον — the right cheek: a backhanded blow, insult more than injury
στρέψον αὐτῷ καὶ τὴν ἄλλην·content — the first of four escalating cases
40
καὶ τῷ θέλοντί σοι κριθῆναι καὶ τὸν χιτῶνά σου λαβεῖν,participial — fronted dative participle leaning forward on ἄφες — the litigant after the inner garment
ἄφες αὐτῷ καὶ τὸ ἱμάτιον·content — the cloak the Law itself protected (Exod 22:26) — yielded freely
41
καὶ ὅστις σε ἀγγαρεύσει μίλιον ἕν,relative — leaning forward on ὕπαγε — ἀγγαρεύω, the Roman requisition
ὕπαγε μετ' αὐτοῦ δύο.content — the coerced mile doubled by free generosity
42
τῷ αἰτοῦντί σε δός,content — the fourth case — open-handedness to the asker
καὶ τὸν θέλοντα ἀπὸ σοῦ δανίσασθαι μὴ ἀποστραφῇς.content — the borrower not refused — the positive summary of non-retaliation
vv. 43–48 — sixth antithesis: enemy-love, the Father's impartiality, and the call to perfection
43
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη·content — the sixth and climactic panel
ἀγαπήσεις τὸν πλησίον σουcontent — Lev 19:18 — the commandment itself
καὶ μισήσεις τὸν ἐχθρόν σου.content — the addition found nowhere in the Torah — the popular inference Jesus quotes in order to overturn
44
ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν·content — the last counter-formula
ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶνcontent — the supreme demand — present imperative, habitual practice; the shorter text printed against the Lukan harmonization
καὶ προσεύχεσθε ὑπὲρ τῶν διωκόντων ὑμᾶς,content — intercession for the persecutors of vv. 10–12
45
ὅπως γένησθε υἱοὶ τοῦ πατρὸς ὑμῶν τοῦ ἐν οὐρανοῖς,purpose — purpose of both imperatives, hung on the last — sonship as family likeness (cf. v. 9)
ὅτι τὸν ἥλιον αὐτοῦ ἀνατέλλει ἐπὶ πονηροὺς καὶ ἀγαθοὺςcause — the Father's indiscriminate benevolence — 'his sun,' the Creator's own
καὶ βρέχει ἐπὶ δικαίους καὶ ἀδίκους.cause — sun and rain to both columns alike — the pattern the sons must mirror
46
ἐὰν γὰρ ἀγαπήσητε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς,conditional — third-class protasis leaning forward on ἔχετε
τίνα μισθὸν ἔχετε;cause — γάρ-question grounding the double command, hung on the last imperative — μισθός echoing v. 12
οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ τελῶναι τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;cause — οὐχί expects 'yes' — reciprocity is no surplus; even the proverbial sinners manage it
47
καὶ ἐὰν ἀσπάσησθε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν μόνον,conditional — the parallel protasis leaning forward on ποιεῖτε
τί περισσὸν ποιεῖτε;cause — τί περισσόν — the disciple's required surplus, echoing the περισσεύσῃ of v. 20
οὐχὶ καὶ οἱ ἐθνικοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν;cause — the second foil — the ἐθνικοί as the measure of mere reciprocity
48
ἔσεσθε οὖν ὑμεῖς τέλειοιcontent — οὖν gathers the whole chapter — imperatival future; τέλειος, whole and undivided, not flawless
ὡς ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος τέλειός ἐστιν.comparative — the Father as measure (cf. Lev 19:2; Deut 18:13) — the antitheses close where the Beatitudes pointed: the Father's likeness
Analysis. Matthew 5 opens the Sermon on the Mount, and unlike Matthew 7 — which runs frameless to its closing formula — this chapter carries its verb of saying up front: ἐδίδασκεν αὐτοὺς λέγων (v. 2). The layout therefore follows the mark4/mark13 convention for framed discourse: the whole chapter is one section; the narrative frame sits at depth 0 (the ascent, the sitting, the disciples' approach, the antecedent participles leaning forward anchor-less); and every main clause of the sermon hangs as a coordinate cnt line at a constant speech depth beneath λέγων, so the anchor never orphans however long the discourse runs. What the shape shows is first the Beatitude-column — eight coordinate μακάριοι lines, each verbless verdict dragging its ὅτι-ground one step deeper, framed by the present 'theirs is the kingdom' (vv. 3, 10) — then the ninth turning to direct address with its ὅταν-triplet anchored on ἐστε; the emphatic Ὑμεῖς-ἐστε pair of salt and light; the μὴ-νομίσητε thesis with its ἀμήν-ground and the paired ὃς-ἐάν cases of v. 19; and finally the six antitheses as matched pairs at speech depth — Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη against ἐγὼ δὲ λέγω ὑμῖν — with the quoted Torah commands (Exod 20:13, 14; Deut 24:1; Lev 19:12 with Num 30:2; Exod 21:24; Lev 19:18) indenting beneath ἐρρέθη exactly as Jesus' rulings indent beneath λέγω: the two catenae hang from parallel verbs of speaking, which is the christological point. Protases, indefinite-relative cases, and fronted casus-pendens datives all lean forward anchor-less (ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας, the ὃς-δ᾽-ἄν insult-cases, the altar scene, the σκανδαλίζει-conditions, the cheek, cloak, and mile, the τελῶναι-questions). Cruxes taken or flagged: εἰκῇ ('without cause') after ὁ ὀργιζόμενος (v. 22) is omitted with the earliest witnesses as a softening gloss; v. 44 is printed in its shorter form against the Lukan harmonization; παρεκτὸς λόγου πορνείας (v. 32) is tagged with the debate (marital unfaithfulness or unlawful union) left open; ἐκ τοῦ πονηροῦ (v. 37) is glossed 'from the evil one' with the neuter alternative noted; and τέλειοι (v. 48) is rendered 'perfect' in the sense of undivided wholeness — the Father-mirroring climax that caps the antitheses and answers the greater-righteousness demand of v. 20.