Matthew 5:21-26

Anger

21 1"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 2'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable 3to judgment.'
22 But I say to you that 4everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable 5to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to 6the hell[c] of fire.
23 7So if 8you 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 9Come 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, 10you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[d]

Cross References 10

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

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.