Matthew 5:26

26 Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny!

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 your gift there before the altar and first go be reconciled to your brother, and then come [and] present your gift.
25 {Settle the case quickly with your accuser} while you are with him on the way, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.
26 Truly I say to you, you will never come out of there until you have paid back the last penny!
27 "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.'
28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.