Matthew 5:26

26 I assure you: You will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny! ^[a]/ 64 of a daily wage

Matthew 5:26 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 5:26

Verily, I say unto thee
This may be depended upon, you may assure yourself of it, that

thou shalt by no means come out thence,
from prison,

till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing,
or "last farthing"; or as the Ethiopic version reads it, "till thou hast exactly paid all"; which seems to express the inexorableness of the creditor, and the impossibility of the debtor's release.

Matthew 5:26 In-Context

24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25 Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you're on the way with him, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison.

26 I assure you: You will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny! / 64 of a daily wage

27 "You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery.

28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit quadrans, the smallest and least valuable Roman coin, worth 1