MAT 5:21-26

Anger and Reconciliation

21"You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not murder,' and 'Whoever murders will be liable to the judgment.'

22But I say to you that everyone who is harboring anger against his brother will be liable to the judgment; and whoever says to his brother 'Raca' will be liable to the council; and whoever says 'Fool!' will be liable to the fire of Gehenna.

23If, therefore, you are bringing your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24leave your gift there before the altar, and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25Come to terms quickly with your legal adversary while you are on the way with him, lest the adversary hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

26Truly I say to you, you will never come out from there until you have paid back the last penny."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish society, anger and insults carried significant social and legal consequences. The term 'Raca' was a deeply offensive Aramaic insult, implying someone was empty-headed or worthless, and could lead to charges before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court. Calling someone 'Fool' went beyond mere mockery; it suggested moral and spiritual deficiency, invoking divine judgment. Anger was not seen as a fleeting emotion but as a settled disposition that disrupted communal harmony. The mention of 'the judgment' and 'the hell of fire' reflects Jewish eschatological beliefs about divine retribution. The instruction to reconcile before offering a gift at the altar underscores the importance of maintaining peace within the community, as unresolved conflicts rendered worship unacceptable. The legal adversary reference highlights the urgency of settling disputes before they escalated into formal litigation, a common practice in Roman and Jewish legal systems.

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How other translations render this

MAT 5:21

KJV: Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
BSB: You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
Koinōnos: You have heard that it was said to the ancients, 'You shall not murder,' and 'Whoever murders will be liable to the judgment.

MAT 5:22

KJV: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
BSB: But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Koinōnos: But I say to you that everyone who is harboring anger against his brother will be liable to the judgment; and whoever says to his brother 'Raca' will be liable to the council; and whoever says 'Fool!' will be liable to the fire of Gehenna.

MAT 5:23

KJV: Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
BSB: So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Koinōnos: If, therefore, you are bringing your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

MAT 5:24

KJV: Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
BSB: leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Koinōnos: leave your gift there before the altar, and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

MAT 5:25

KJV: Agree 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.
BSB: Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
Koinōnos: Come to terms quickly with your legal adversary while you are on the way with him, lest the adversary hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

MAT 5:26

KJV: Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
BSB: Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.
Koinōnos: Truly I say to you, you will never come out from there until you have paid back the last penny.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 5:22

is being angry with:The word translated 'is being angry with' implies a sustained, settled anger, not a fleeting emotion. It suggests an internal disposition of hostility rather than a momentary outburst.
of him;:The term used here, 'Raca,' is a transliteration of an Aramaic insult meaning 'empty-headed' or 'worthless.' It was a deeply contemptuous expression, implying utter disdain for another person's intelligence or character.
may say;:The word translated 'fool' here refers to someone who is morally and spiritually senseless, not merely lacking in intelligence. It implies a profound deficiency in judgment and understanding of divine things.

MAT 5:25

accuser:The word translated 'accuser' specifically refers to a legal adversary or opponent in a lawsuit. It evokes the context of a formal legal dispute, not just a general enemy.