Matthew 5:21-26

Expanded Bible

Jesus Teaches About Anger^(A)

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to ·our people long ago [our ancestors; the ancients], ‘You ·must [^Lshall] not murder [Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17]. Anyone who murders another will be ·judged [subject to judgment].’ ²² But I tell you, ·if you are [^Leveryone who is] angry with a brother or sister,^[a] you will be ·judged [subject to judgment]. ·If you say [^LWhoever says] ·bad things [“Fool!”; ^LRaca; ^Can Aramaic term of derision] to a brother or sister, you will be ·judged [subject/liable to judgment] by the ·council [Sanhedrin]. And if you call someone a ·fool [idiot; moron], you will be in danger of the fire of ·hell [^LGehenna; ^Ca valley outside of Jerusalem where in the OT period children were sacrificed to a pagan god; later used as a burning trash heap; a metaphor for hell].

²³ “So when you ·offer your gift to God [present your offering/sacrifice] at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your ·gift [offering; sacrifice] there at the altar. Go and ·make peace [be reconciled] with that person [^Lfirst], and then come and ·offer your gift [present your offering/sacrifice].

²⁵ “If your ·enemy [opponent; adversary; accuser] is taking you to court, ·become friends [reach agreement; settle matters] quickly, ·before you go [on the way] to court. Otherwise, your ·enemy [opponent; adversary; accuser] might turn you over to the judge, and the judge might give you to the ·guard [officer; warden] to ·put [throw] you in ·jail [prison]. ²⁶ I tell you the truth, you will ·not [never; certainly not] leave there until you have paid ·everything you owe [the last penny; ^CGreek: the last quadrans; a small copper coin of very low value].