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20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be [a]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court.(A)

22 But I say to you that everyone who continues to be [b]angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart) against him shall be [c]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be [d]liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You [e]cursed fool! [You empty-headed idiot!] shall be [f]liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire.

23 So if when you are offering your gift at the altar you there remember that your brother has any [grievance] against you,

24 Leave your gift at the altar and go. First make peace with your brother, and then come back and present your gift.

25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way traveling with him, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

26 Truly I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last fraction of a penny.

27 You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.(B)

28 But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  2. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts insert here: “without cause.”
  3. Matthew 5:22 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  4. Matthew 5:22 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  5. Matthew 5:22 Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation.
  6. Matthew 5:22 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.

20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(A)

Murder(B)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a](C) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry(D) with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment.(E) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court.(F) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.(G)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e](H) 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(I)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13
  2. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
  3. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt
  5. Matthew 5:27 Exodus 20:14