Matthew 5:18-28

18 For truly, I say to you, 1until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
19 2Therefore whoever relaxes 3one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least 4in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great 5in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds 6that of the scribes and Pharisees, you 7will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger

21 8"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 9'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable 10to judgment.'
22 But I say to you that 11everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable 12to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to 13the hell[c] of fire.
23 14So if 15you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
25 16Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.
26 Truly, I say to you, 17you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[d]

Lust

27 18"You have heard that it was said, 19'You shall not commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you that 20everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Cross References 20

  • 1. Luke 16:17; [Matthew 24:35]
  • 2. [1 Corinthians 3:12-15]
  • 3. [Galatians 3:10; James 2:10]
  • 4. Matthew 11:11; Matthew 18:1-4
  • 5. Matthew 11:11; Matthew 18:1-4
  • 6. [Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:9]
  • 7. John 3:5
  • 8. ver. 33; [ver. 27, 31, 38, 43]
  • 9. Cited from Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17; [Matthew 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9; James 2:11]
  • 10. [Deuteronomy 16:18]
  • 11. 1 John 3:15
  • 12. [See ver. 21 above]
  • 13. Matthew 18:9; Mark 9:43; James 3:6; [ver. 29]
  • 14. [Matthew 6:15; Mark 11:25]
  • 15. Matthew 8:4; Matthew 23:18
  • 16. Luke 12:58, 59
  • 17. [Matthew 18:34, 35]
  • 18. See ver. 21
  • 19. Cited from Exodus 20:14; Deuteronomy 5:18
  • 20. Job 31:1; Proverbs 6:25; [2 Samuel 11:2]

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Some manuscripts insert without cause
  • [b]. Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
  • [c]. Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
  • [d]. Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.