What does Matthew 5:21-22 mean?

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." - Matthew 5:21-22

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." - Matthew 5:21-22

Matthew 5:21-22 in the King James Version reads:

"Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 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."

The passage from Matthew 5:21-22 is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, in which he aims to deepen and further fulfill the teachings of the Old Testament Law. Here, Jesus addresses the commandment "Thou shalt not kill" and expands upon it to include the internal attitudes and motivations that lead to such outward actions.

The passage reveals several important themes, including the nature of sin, the importance of the heart, proper human relationships, and the righteous standard of God's judgment.

The first theme that we can derive from this passage is the nature of sin. Jesus makes it clear that sin is not just an outward action but also includes the internal attitudes and motivations of the heart. He emphasizes that being angry with a brother without a cause is just as sinful and worthy of judgment as physically committing murder. This challenges the common understanding of sin at the time and highlights the depth and seriousness of sin in God's eyes.

Another theme that emerges from this passage is the importance of the heart. Jesus is concerned with the innermost thoughts and attitudes of the human heart, as they often manifest into outward behaviors. In this passage, Jesus highlights the destructive power of anger, name-calling, and contempt towards others, and he warns about the serious consequences of harboring such attitudes. This challenges his listeners to examine their inner thoughts and to recognize the importance of a renewed heart and mind.

This passage also emphasizes the importance of proper human relationships. Jesus not only prohibits the act of murder but also the destructive attitudes and speech that can damage relationships. By addressing the harmful words "Raca" and "fool," Jesus is warning against the destructive power of contempt and verbal abuse. This highlights the importance of loving and respecting others, nurturing healthy and wholesome relationships, and seeking reconciliation and peace with one another.

Ultimately, this passage reveals the righteous standard of God's judgment. Jesus makes it clear that God's judgment goes beyond external actions and delves into the depths of the human heart. He warns his listeners that their attitudes, words, and behaviors will be held accountable before God's righteous judgment.

In terms of context, this passage reflects Jesus' teachings as the fulfillment and deepening of the Old Testament Law. He aimed to correct misconceptions and to bring about a more profound understanding of God's expectations for his people. By addressing the heart and inner attitudes of humankind, Jesus challenged the religious leaders' narrow and legalistic interpretations of the Law and highlighted the transformative power of God's grace and righteousness.

Symbolically, this passage represents the transformative and life-giving nature of Jesus' teachings. It emphasizes the need for an inward renewal and transformation of the heart, as well as the importance of nurturing healthy and respectful relationships. It also points to the righteous and just nature of God's judgment and the need for reconciliation and restoration in human relationships.

In conclusion, the passage from Matthew 5:21-22 in the King James Version serves as a profound and challenging teaching from Jesus. It reveals the depth of sin, the importance of the heart, proper human relationships, and the righteous standard of God's judgment. This passage continues to provide timeless insights and guidance for believers as they seek to live according to God's will and teachings.

Have questions about Matthew 5:21-22?

Dive deeper into this scripture with Bible Chat — an AI-powered tool for exploring God's Word through conversation. Ask questions, get context, and grow in your understanding of the Bible.

Matthew 5:21-22 Artwork

Matthew 5:21-22 - "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire."

Matthew 5:21-22 - "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire."

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." - Matthew 5:21-22

"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire." - Matthew 5:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 9:21-22

Matthew 21:22 - "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Matthew 21:22 - "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."

Matthew 22:5 - "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:"

Matthew 22:5 - "But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:"

Matthew 22:21 - "They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

Matthew 22:21 - "They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's."

Matthew 5:21 - "¶ 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:"

Matthew 5:21 - "¶ 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:"

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matthew 21:22

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matthew 21:22

Matthew 21:5 - "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."

Matthew 21:5 - "Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass."

"Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." - Matthew 21:5

"Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass." - Matthew 21:5

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matthew 21:22

"And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." - Matthew 21:22

Proverbs 5:21-22 - "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast."

Proverbs 5:21-22 - "For a man's ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of the wicked ensnare them; the cords of their sins hold them fast."

"But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:" - Matthew 22:5

"But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:" - Matthew 22:5

Matthew 10:21-22 - "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Matthew 10:21-22 - "Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Matthew 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Matthew 21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

Matthew 18:21-22 - "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Matthew 18:21-22 - "Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times."

Matthew 9:21

Matthew 9:21

Matthew 21

Matthew 21

Matthew 22:22 - "When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way."

Matthew 22:22 - "When they had heard these words, they marvelled, and left him, and went their way."

Matthew 6:22

Matthew 6:22

Matthew 6:22

Matthew 6:22

Matthew 25:21

Matthew 25:21

Matthew 25:21

Matthew 25:21

Matthew 6:22

Matthew 6:22

Matthew 5:22 - "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."

Matthew 5:22 - "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."

Matthew 21:31

Matthew 21:31