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Matthew 5:20-22
New King James Version
Matthew 5:20-22
New King James Version
20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds (A)the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Murder Begins in the Heart(B)
21 “You have heard that it was said to those [a]of old, (C)‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that (D)whoever is angry with his brother [b]without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, (E)‘Raca!’[c] shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, [d]‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of [e]hell fire.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 5:21 in ancient times
- Matthew 5:22 NU omits without a cause
- Matthew 5:22 Lit., in Aram., Empty head
- Matthew 5:22 Gr. More
- Matthew 5:22 Gr. Gehenna
Matthew 5:20-22
New International Version
Matthew 5:20-22
New International Version
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)
Footnotes
- Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13
- 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.
- Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
- Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt
Matthew 5:20-22
English Standard Version
Matthew 5:20-22
English Standard Version
20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds (A)that of the scribes and Pharisees, you (B)will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Anger
21 (C)“You have heard that it was said to those of old, (D)‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable (E)to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that (F)everyone who is angry with his brother[a] will be liable (G)to judgment; whoever insults[b] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to (H)the hell[c] of fire.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts insert without cause
- Matthew 5:22 Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
- Matthew 5:22 Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.