Every one of these bible verses from Matthew is quoted word for word from the King James Version, with the chapter and verse beneath it.
And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
Matthew 1:21 (KJV)
Among the bible verses from Matthew, this is where the whole Gospel begins: a name that means rescue. The angel’s message to Joseph tells us who Jesus is and why he came before a single miracle is recorded.
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
Matthew 4:19 (KJV)
Jesus calls ordinary working men and gives them a new purpose. This verse shows that following him is both an invitation and a mission, and that he shapes people for work they never imagined.
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:3 (KJV)
The first of the Beatitudes turns the world’s values around. Those who know their need of God are not left out; they are the ones who receive the kingdom, which is why readers love this verse.
Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
Matthew 5:9 (KJV)
Peacemaking is more than avoiding conflict. Of all the bible verses from Matthew about character, this one links the work of reconciling people with sharing the family likeness of God.
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Jesus says this to ordinary listeners, not to experts. The image is simple: a hilltop city is seen from far away, and a life shaped by God quietly shows others the way.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
The goal of good works here is not credit for us but glory for the Father. This verse is one of the bible verses from Matthew that keeps service humble and visible at the same time.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:44 (KJV)
This is among the hardest bible verses from Matthew, and also among the most freeing. Praying for a person who hurt you loosens the grip of bitterness and places the matter in God’s hands.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:14 (KJV)
Jesus ties our forgiving to our being forgiven. It does not make mercy a bargain; it shows that a heart receiving grace will want to pass it on, and a closed heart struggles to receive it.
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Matthew 6:33 (KJV)
Priorities are the point of this well-known verse. Of the bible verses from Matthew about worry, it gives the clearest order: put God first, and trust him to care for daily needs.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Matthew 6:34 (KJV)
The old word thought here means anxious worry. Jesus invites us to live one day at a time, which makes this a gentle verse for anyone whose mind races ahead to things that have not happened.
Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Matthew 7:7 (KJV)
Three verbs build in intensity: ask, seek, knock. The verse encourages persistent prayer and shows a Father who responds, which is why it appears so often when people share bible verses from Matthew about prayer.
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:12 (KJV)
Often called the Golden Rule, this sentence sums up how to treat others. It asks us to imagine ourselves in their place and then act with the kindness we would hope to receive.
Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28 (KJV)
Few bible verses from Matthew are as comforting as this open invitation. It makes no demand except to come, and it speaks directly to anyone tired in body, mind or spirit.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Matthew 16:24 (KJV)
Jesus is honest about the cost of discipleship. This verse is not a gloomy one; it simply says that real following means laying down our own agenda and trusting where he leads.
But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Matthew 19:26 (KJV)
Spoken after the disciples asked who could be saved, this verse shows that salvation rests on God’s power, not human effort. Many readers turn to it when a problem looks too large to solve.
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matthew 22:37 (KJV)
When asked for the greatest commandment, Jesus answers with total love for God. Among bible verses from Matthew about devotion, it covers heart, soul and mind, leaving no part of life outside it.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
Matthew 28:19 (KJV)
This is the Great Commission. It sends the church to every people, and it explains why the bible verses from Matthew still travel across languages and borders today.
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:20 (KJV)
The Gospel ends with a promise rather than a farewell. Jesus will be with his people always, so the last of these bible verses from Matthew leaves us steady for the road ahead.
The Gospel of Matthew is the first book of the New Testament, and for many readers it is the best doorway into the life of Jesus. When people search for bible verses from Matthew, they are usually looking for words they can hold onto: comfort for a heavy day, guidance for a decision, or a clear picture of what Jesus taught.
Matthew gathers a great deal of that teaching in one place. It carries the Beatitudes, the Lord’s Prayer, the parables of the kingdom and the Great Commission. Because the book is arranged so carefully, bible verses from Matthew often make the most sense when you read them within the longer sections where they appear.
This page offers a balanced starting point. It gives you eighteen passages to read slowly, then explains the background, the main themes and some practical ways to apply them. If you want a wider view of the Lord’s teaching, you can also explore Bible verses about Jesus’ teachings after you finish here.
Another reason to read Matthew is its clear structure. The book alternates between stories and five major teaching blocks, each ending with a similar phrase. That pattern helps a reader move from event to instruction and back again, and it makes the bible verses from Matthew easier to follow than a random collection of sayings would be.
Early Christian tradition names the author as Matthew, also called Levi, the tax collector whom Jesus called to follow him. The book itself does not sign its name, but it shows a writer who knew Scripture well. Matthew often says that events happened so that something spoken by the prophets would be fulfilled, linking the story of Jesus to the long story of Israel.
That focus tells us a lot about the first readers. Many were Jewish believers who needed to see that Jesus was the promised Messiah and the son of David and of Abraham. The opening family record is not filler; it presents Jesus as the one in whom the promises to those men come true.
Knowing this makes bible verses from Matthew easier to read. When a verse sounds like an echo of the law or the prophets, that is deliberate. Matthew wants us to hear the Old Testament and the New Testament as one unbroken message that finds its center in Christ.
Matthew also records how Jesus fulfilled the hopes of Israel while opening the door to the nations. Wise men from the east appear in the second chapter, and the Gospel ends with the call to every nation. Seeing that wide arc gives extra weight to many bible verses from Matthew, which are far larger than a single moment.
Matthew’s first chapters are full of wonder. An angel speaks to Joseph, wise men travel a long way to worship, and a family flees danger to protect a child. Matthew 1:21 shows the purpose behind it all, because the child is named Jesus, meaning that he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew does not describe a mighty ruler arriving in comfort. He shows a vulnerable baby, a humble household and a king whose power works through service. Readers looking for bible verses from Matthew at Christmas time often begin here, because these chapters explain who Jesus is before he says a word.
Soon after, Jesus begins to call followers. In Matthew 4:19 he meets fishermen at work and invites them to leave their nets. The call is personal and practical. If you have ever wondered whether God can use an ordinary job and an ordinary person, these verses give a warm and encouraging answer.
Chapters five to seven form the Sermon on the Mount, probably the best known teaching ever given. Jesus sits on a hillside and explains what life under God’s rule looks like. Many of the best loved bible verses from Matthew come from this one sermon, including the Beatitudes, the teaching on light and the call to love enemies.
The sermon is not a list of rules for earning God’s favor. It describes the character of people who already belong to the kingdom. Jesus speaks to the heart: anger, desire, promises, giving and prayer are all examined from the inside, because he cares about who we are as well as what we do.
If this section speaks to you, take time with a fuller collection. Our pages on Bible verses about the Sermon on the Mount and Bible verses about the Beatitudes go deeper into these three chapters and make a good companion to the passages gathered here.
The word blessed in the Beatitudes describes a deep, settled well-being that does not depend on circumstances. Jesus calls the poor in spirit, the mourning, the meek and the merciful blessed. Matthew 5:3 and 5:9 are two of the bible verses from Matthew most often copied, because they flip our assumptions about who is truly fortunate.
Notice that each blessing comes with a promise. The poor in spirit receive the kingdom, the peacemakers are called children of God, and the pure in heart will see God. These are not rewards for being impressive. They are gifts that meet people exactly where they are weakest.
For anyone who feels overlooked, this teaching can be a real comfort. God does not measure worth by status, strength or success. Reading these bible verses from Matthew slowly can reset how you see yourself, and how you see the people around you who are hurting quietly.
There is also a communal side to the Beatitudes. Jesus is not describing private virtue alone; he is describing a people. When mourners are comforted and the merciful receive mercy, the kingdom becomes visible in how believers treat one another. That is a good reason to study these bible verses from Matthew with friends or in a small group.
Right after the Beatitudes, Jesus calls his listeners the salt of the earth and the light of the world. He is describing what a life of faith naturally does. Salt preserves and flavors, and light shows the way. Neither exists for itself, and both are useful only when they are put to work.
Matthew 5:14 and 5:16 are among the bible verses from Matthew that people memorize to remember their purpose. The light is not for showing off; it is so that others may see good works and give glory to the Father. The attention always moves from us toward God.
You do not need a platform to live this out. A patient answer, an honest day’s work, a meal shared with a neighbor and a kind word at the right moment are all ways of letting your light shine. Small, steady faithfulness is often more convincing than any speech.
Jesus raised the standard of love higher than his listeners expected. Loving friends is easy; loving enemies is not. In Matthew 5:44 he commands blessing, good deeds and prayer for those who mistreat us. Among all the bible verses from Matthew, this may be the one that most clearly sets his teaching apart.
Praying for an enemy does not mean pretending nothing happened or accepting harm. It means refusing to let hatred decide who we become. Many people find that when they begin to pray for someone who hurt them, their own heart softens first, long before anything changes in the other person.
The Golden Rule in Matthew 7:12 gives a simple test for daily life. Before you speak, ask how you would like to be treated if the roles were reversed. That one question can improve conversations at home, at work and online, and it is a reliable guide in situations no rule book could cover.
It helps to remember that Jesus lived these words. On the cross he prayed for those who put him there, and Matthew shows him showing patience even with betrayal. When we struggle with the command to love enemies, these bible verses from Matthew come from someone who paid the full price of obeying it himself.
Matthew records the Lord’s Prayer, and right after it he adds a note about forgiveness. In Matthew 6:14 Jesus explains that forgiving others goes together with being forgiven by the Father. Readers who search for bible verses from Matthew about forgiveness usually land here because the point is stated so plainly.
Forgiveness is rarely quick or easy, and Jesus does not say it is. He asks us to move toward it, trusting that the God who forgave us much can give us the strength to forgive others. It is a process of releasing a debt, not of pretending that the wound was small.
If this is a struggle for you, be patient with yourself and keep bringing the matter to God. You may also find help in Bible verses about forgiving others, which gathers more passages on mercy, release and moving forward with a lighter heart.
In chapter six Jesus speaks to one of the most common human struggles, worry. He points to birds and flowers and reminds us that the Father cares for them. Then comes Matthew 6:33, one of the bible verses from Matthew that has steadied many anxious readers: seek first the kingdom of God, and the rest will follow.
Notice that Jesus is not asking us to be careless. He is asking us to arrange our lives around what matters most. When God is first, other needs find their proper size. Worry shrinks because it is no longer the loudest voice in the room.
Matthew 6:34 adds a practical rule: do not carry tomorrow’s trouble today. If you are weighed down by what might happen, try writing your worries in a short list and praying over them one by one. For more passages on trusting God with the future, see Bible verses about peace of mind.
Some readers worry that this teaching ignores real bills and real fear. It does not. Jesus acknowledges that we need food, clothing and shelter, and says the Father knows it. The point is that anxiety cannot add a single hour to life, while trust opens a way forward, which is why these bible verses from Matthew still help so much.
Matthew 7:7 describes prayer as active, persistent and hopeful. Ask, seek and knock are three ways of saying that God invites us to keep coming to him. The promise that follows is that doors open and answers come, though not always in the form or timing we expect.
Jesus then compares God to a good father who gives good gifts to his children. This is the reason so many people include this passage when they share bible verses from Matthew about prayer. It shows that prayer is a conversation with a Father who delights to hear us, not a transaction with a distant power.
To put this into practice, set aside a few minutes each day to talk to God about one specific need. Write down what you asked, and look back after a few weeks. Many believers are surprised by how often they can trace an answer they had almost forgotten.
Matthew 11:28 is one of the most tender sentences in the Bible. Jesus speaks to those who labour and are heavy laden, and he promises rest. Of all the bible verses from Matthew, this is the one people most often send to a friend who is exhausted, grieving or burned out.
The rest Jesus offers is not only sleep or a holiday. It is a deeper relief, found by coming to him and learning from him. In the next verse he describes himself as gentle and lowly in heart, so we can approach without fear of being scolded.
If your life feels crowded right now, begin with one small pause. Read the verse aloud, breathe slowly, and tell Jesus plainly what is weighing on you. You can find more passages in the same spirit in Bible verses about the life of Jesus, which shows the compassion he showed to everyone he met.
Rest in Matthew is also tied to the yoke Jesus offers. A yoke fits two animals together so the load is shared, and the image suggests we are never pulling alone. That detail makes this one of the most personal bible verses from Matthew, because it pictures Jesus walking beside us under the same load.
Matthew does not hide that following Jesus costs something. In Matthew 16:24 he says that anyone who wishes to come after him must deny himself, take up his cross and follow. These bible verses from Matthew can sound severe at first, but they are spoken by someone who walks the road ahead of us.
To deny yourself does not mean to hate yourself. It means to stop placing your own desires on the throne. Jesus is describing a life that finds its meaning in trusting him, and he adds elsewhere that whoever loses his life for his sake will find it.
In practice, this may look like choosing honesty when a lie would be easier, serving someone when you are tired, or giving up a habit that harms you. Discipleship is made of ordinary choices repeated over time. Our page on Bible verses about following Jesus offers more encouragement for the journey.
Do not read this teaching in isolation. A few verses later Jesus says that whoever loses his life for his sake will find it. The cross in Matthew 16 is the road to life, not an end in itself, and this promise gives the bible verses from Matthew on discipleship a hopeful ending.
In Matthew 19 a rich young man walks away sorrowful, and the disciples ask in amazement who then can be saved. Jesus answers with one of the most hopeful bible verses from Matthew: with men it is impossible, but with God all things are possible. The verse places salvation in God’s hands.
That answer is good news for anyone who feels unqualified. No one earns their place in the kingdom through strength, wealth or good behavior. Salvation is a gift that God makes possible, and it is received with open hands rather than earned with a full ledger.
The same truth applies to daily problems that seem too large. A broken relationship, a hard diagnosis or a stubborn habit may look impossible from our side. This verse does not promise easy solutions, but it does remind us that the God who raised Jesus from the dead is not limited by what we can see.
Near the end of his public teaching, Jesus is asked which commandment is the greatest. His reply in Matthew 22:37 is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. Among the bible verses from Matthew that summarize the faith, this one is hard to improve on.
Jesus then adds a second commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself, and says that the whole law and the prophets hang on these two. Everything else in Scripture grows from this root. Rules, rituals and traditions all exist to help us love God and the people near us.
A helpful practice is to ask each evening where you loved God and neighbor that day, and where you fell short. This is not a test to pass or fail; it is a way of staying close to what matters most. Over time it reshapes habits, one ordinary day after another.
Matthew closes with the risen Jesus meeting his disciples on a mountain. He tells them to go to all nations, make disciples, baptize and teach. The bible verses from Matthew 28:19-20 are known as the Great Commission, and they have sent missionaries, teachers and neighbors to share the good news for centuries.
The commission is not given to a select few. Every believer shares in it, whether by teaching, giving, praying or simply living faithfully before others. If you want to explore this call more fully, see our collection of Bible verses about sharing the gospel.
The final line is perhaps the most precious of all. Jesus says he is with his people always, to the end of the age. The book that began with a name meaning God with us ends with the same promise, which is a beautiful frame for everything in between.
A final thought on the Great Commission is how ordinary it is. Jesus does not ask for perfect speakers; he asks for faithful learners who pass on what they have been taught. Anyone who shares what Jesus has done in their life is taking part in these bible verses from Matthew, one conversation at a time.
One of the strengths of Matthew is how directly it speaks to ordinary days. You can read bible verses from Matthew in the morning to set your priorities, at lunch to refocus, or before bed to release your worries. Each verse in this collection is short enough to remember and rich enough to think about for a week.
Try choosing one verse and carrying it through your day. Matthew 6:33 fits a busy morning, Matthew 7:12 helps in a tense conversation, and Matthew 11:28 suits the end of a draining day. Repeating the words turns them from information into a habit of trust.
Families can do this together as well. Read one verse aloud at breakfast, ask what it means, and then decide on one small way to live it that day. Even young children can grasp the heart of these passages, which is part of why they have been loved for so long.
If you prefer a structured plan, read one chapter of Matthew a day for four weeks. The Gospel has twenty-eight chapters, so it fits neatly into a month. Mark a verse in each chapter, and by the end you will have your own personal list of bible verses from Matthew drawn from your own reading.
A good way to study bible verses from Matthew is to read the whole chapter before focusing on a single verse. Context protects the meaning. A line that sounds like a stand-alone slogan often belongs to a longer teaching, and the surrounding sentences can add depth, warning or comfort.
Next, compare what you read with other Gospels. Mark, Luke and John record some of the same events from different angles, and seeing them side by side helps you notice what is unique in Matthew. Free tools like Bible Gateway and Blue Letter Bible make it easy to read these passages in parallel.
Finally, write down what you notice, what you do not understand and what you will do about it. Studying bible verses from Matthew is most helpful when it leads to action. If you would like to continue in the Gospels, our collection on Bible verses about the Gospel is a good next step.
If you enjoyed these bible verses from Matthew, these related collections are a natural next step: Bible verses about the Sermon on the Mount, Bible verses about the Beatitudes, Bible verses about Jesus’ teachings, Bible verses about the life of Jesus, Bible verses about following Jesus, Bible verses about the Gospel, Bible verses about Jesus’ miracles, Bible verses about forgiving others, Kingdom of God Bible verses, Bible verses from Ephesians.
To study these verses in more depth, try Bible Gateway, Bible Hub, Bible Study Tools, Blue Letter Bible.
Matthew 5:16, 6:33, 7:7, 11:28 and 28:19-20 are among the most quoted. They cover light, priorities, prayer, rest and mission. Many readers also love the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, which is why bible verses from Matthew appear so often on cards and in sermons.
Early Christian tradition names Matthew, the former tax collector called by Jesus, as the author. The book itself does not name its writer. Whatever the exact details, the bible verses from Matthew show a careful author who knew the Old Testament well and wrote for believers.
The Sermon on the Mount is in Matthew chapters 5 to 7. It includes the Beatitudes, teaching on light and salt, love for enemies, the Lord’s Prayer and the call to seek the kingdom first. Many favorite bible verses from Matthew come from these chapters.
The Great Commission is Matthew 28:19-20, where the risen Jesus tells his disciples to teach all nations, baptize and observe his commands. It ends with a promise that he is always present. These are some of the most important bible verses from Matthew.
Matthew 6:33 and 6:34 are the usual choices. They call us to seek God’s kingdom first and to take each day as it comes. Matthew 11:28 also helps, because it invites the weary to rest. Together these bible verses from Matthew offer practical, gentle relief.
Matthew connects the Old Testament and the New by showing Jesus as the promised Messiah, so it makes a natural opening. Its order is also thoughtful. For readers new to the Bible, bible verses from Matthew are a welcoming way to begin the Gospels.
