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Personal Relationships

21 (A)You have heard that [a]the ancients were told, ‘(B)You shall not murder’ and ‘Whoever murders shall be guilty before (C)the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before (D)the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘[b]Raca,’ shall be guilty before the [c](E)Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the [d](F)fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you are (G)presenting your [e]offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your [f]offering there before the altar and go; first be (H)reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your [g]offering. 25 (I)Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, (J)you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last [h]quadrans.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 Lit it was said to the ancients
  2. Matthew 5:22 Or empty-head; from Aram reqa
  3. Matthew 5:22 Or Council
  4. Matthew 5:22 Lit Gehenna of fire
  5. Matthew 5:23 Or gift
  6. Matthew 5:24 Or gift
  7. Matthew 5:24 Or gift
  8. Matthew 5:26 A Roman copper coin, approx. 1/64 of a laborer’s daily wage

Teaching about Anger

21 “You have heard that it was told those who lived long ago, ‘You are not to commit murder,’[a] and, ‘Whoever murders will be subject to punishment.’[b] 22 But I say to you, anyone who is angry with his brother without a cause[c] will be subject to punishment. And whoever says to his brother ‘Raka!’[d] will be subject to the Council.[e] And whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hell[f] fire.

23 “So if you are presenting your gift at the altar and remember there that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and first go and be reconciled to your brother. Then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are on the way to court,[g] or your opponent may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you[h] with certainty, you will not get out of there until you pay back the last dollar!”[i]

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:21 Cf. Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17
  2. Matthew 5:21 Cf. Exod 21:12; Lev 24:17
  3. Matthew 5:22 Other mss. lack without a cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 Raka is Aram. for You worthless one
  5. Matthew 5:22 Or Sanhedrin
  6. Matthew 5:22 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom
  7. Matthew 5:25 Lit. while you are with him on the way
  8. Matthew 5:26 The Gk. pronoun you is sing.
  9. Matthew 5:26 Lit. quadran; i.e. about 1/64th of a daily wage for a common worker