Matthew 5:26

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out of there, until thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Matthew 5:26 Meaning and Commentary

Matthew 5:26

Verily, I say unto thee
This may be depended upon, you may assure yourself of it, that

thou shalt by no means come out thence,
from prison,

till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing,
or "last farthing"; or as the Ethiopic version reads it, "till thou hast exactly paid all"; which seems to express the inexorableness of the creditor, and the impossibility of the debtor's release.

Matthew 5:26 In-Context

24 leave thy gift there before the altar, and go; first restore friendship with thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25 Conciliate with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out of there, until thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

27 Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not commit adultery;

28 but I say unto you, That whosoever looks on a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart.