Matthew 5:17-22

17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the ¹Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

18 "For truly I say to you, ²until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

19 "Whoever * then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least ³in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever * keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 "For I say to you that unless * your ⁴righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Personal Relationships

21 "⁵You have heard that the ancients were told, '⁶YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever * commits murder shall be liable to ⁷the court.'

22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before ⁸the court; and whoever * says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before ⁹the supreme court; and whoever * says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the ¹⁰fiery hell.

Cross References

• 1. Matthew 7:12
• 2. Matthew 24:35; Luke 16:17
• 3. Matthew 11:11
• 4. Luke 18:11, 12
• 5. Matt 5:27, 33, 38, 43
• 6. Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
• 7. Deuteronomy 16:18; 2 Chronicles 19:5
• 8. Deuteronomy 16:18; 2 Chronicles 19:5
• 9. Matthew 10:17; Matthew 26:59; Mark 13:9; Mark 14:55; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66; John 11:47; Acts 4:15; Acts 5:21; Acts 6:12; Acts 22:30; Acts 23:1; Acts 24:20
• 10. Matthew 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43f; Luke 12:5; James 3:6

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "one iota" (Heb yodh) or "one projection of a letter" (serif)
• [b]. Gr "anthropoi"
• [c]. Lit "does"
• [d]. Lit "it was said to the ancients"
• [e]. Or "guilty before"
• [f]. Or "liable to"
• [g]. Or "empty-head;" Gr "Raka (Raca)" fr Aram "reqa"
• [h]. Or "liable to"
• [i]. Lit "the Sanhedrin"
• [j]. Or "liable to"
• [k]. Lit "Gehenna of fire"