Matthew 5:15-25

15 ¹Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.

16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so ²that^[a] they may see your good works and ³give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

17 ⁴“Do not think that I have come to abolish ⁵the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but ⁶to fulfill them.

18 For truly, I say to you, ⁷until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

19 ⁸Therefore whoever relaxes ⁹one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least ¹⁰in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great ¹¹in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds ¹²that of the scribes and Pharisees, you ¹³will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger

21 ¹⁴“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ¹⁵‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable ¹⁶to judgment. ’

22 But I say to you that ¹⁷everyone who is angry with his brother^[b] will be liable ¹⁸to judgment; whoever insults^[c] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool! ’ will be liable to ¹⁹the hell^[d] of fire.

23 ²⁰So if ²¹you 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 ²²Come 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.

Cross References

• 1. 5:15 Mark 4:21; Luke 8:16; 11:33
• 2. 5:16 Philem. 6; 1 Pet. 2:12
• 3. 5:16 John 15:8; 2 Cor. 9:13; Phil. 1:11; [ch. 9:8]
• 4. 5:17 Rom. 3:31
• 5. 5:17 ch. 7:12
• 6. 5:17 [Rom. 10:4; 13:8; Gal. 3:24]
• 7. 5:18 Luke 16:17; [ch. 24:35]
• 8. 5:19 [1 Cor. 3:12-15]
• 9. 5:19 [Gal. 3:10; James 2:10]
• 10. 5:19 ch. 11:11; 18:1-4
• 11. 5:19 ch. 11:11; 18:1-4
• 12. 5:20 [Rom. 10:3; Phil. 3:9]
• 13. 5:20 John 3:5
• 14. 5:21 ver. 33; [ver. 27, 31, 38, 43]
• 15. 5:21 Cited from Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17; [ch. 19:18; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20; Rom. 13:9; James 2:11]
• 16. 5:21 [Deut. 16:18]
• 17. 5:22 1 John 3:15
• 18. 5:22 [See ver. 21 above]
• 19. 5:22 ch. 18:9; Mark 9:43; James 3:6; [ver. 29]
• 20. 5:23 [ch. 6:15; Mark 11:25]
• 21. 5:23 ch. 8:4; 23:18
• 22. 5:25 Luke 12:58, 59

Footnotes

• [a] 5:16 Or 'house. '16'Let your light so shine before others that'
• [b] 5:22 Some manuscripts insert 'without cause'
• [c] 5:22 Greek 'says Raca to' (a term of abuse)
• [d] 5:22 Greek 'Gehenna'; also verses 29, 30