Matthew 5:16-26

16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may ¹see your good works, and ²glorify your Father who is in heaven.

17 "Do not think that I came to abolish the ³Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

18 "For truly I say to you, ⁴until 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 ⁵in 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 ⁶righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Personal Relationships

21 "⁷You have heard that the ancients were told, '⁸YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER ' and 'Whoever * commits murder shall be liable to ⁹the court.'

22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before ¹⁰the court; and whoever * says to his brother, 'You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before ¹¹the supreme court; and whoever * says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the ¹²fiery hell.

23 "Therefore if you are ¹³presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be ¹⁴reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.

25 "¹⁵Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

26 "Truly I say to you, ¹⁶you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.

Cross References

• 1. 1 Peter 2:12
• 2. Matthew 9:8
• 3. Matthew 7:12
• 4. Matthew 24:35; Luke 16:17
• 5. Matthew 11:11
• 6. Luke 18:11, 12
• 7. Matt 5:27, 33, 38, 43
• 8. Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17
• 9. Deuteronomy 16:18; 2 Chronicles 19:5
• 10. Deuteronomy 16:18; 2 Chronicles 19:5
• 11. 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
• 12. Matthew 5:29; Matthew 10:28; Matthew 18:9; Matthew 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43f; Luke 12:5; James 3:6
• 13. Matthew 5:24
• 14. Romans 12:17, 18
• 15. Proverbs 25:8; Luke 12:58
• 16. Luke 12:59

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"
• [l]. Or "gift"
• [m]. Or "gift"
• [n]. Or "gift"
• [o]. Lit "quadrans" (equaling two mites); i.e. 1/64 of a daily wage