Matthew 5:21

The law

¹⁹ So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

²² 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.

²³ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
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:
WEB: “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
ASV: Ye have heard that it was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
DARBY: Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill; but whosoever shall kill shall be subject to the judgment.
BLB: You⁺ heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not murder,’ and, ‘Whoever may murder will be liable to the judgment.’

ÅB: «Dere har hørt at det er sagt til de gamle: ‘Du skal ikke slå ihjel. Den som slår ihjel skal være skyldig for dommen.’
OTB: Dere har hørt at det ble sagt til de gamle: ‘Du skal ikke slå i hjel, og den som slår i hjel, skal være skyldig for domstolen.’
B1930: I har hørt at det er sagt til de gamle: Du skal ikke slå ihjel, men den som slår ihjel, skal være skyldig for dommen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Deuteronomy 5:17
You shall not murder.
Read in context
Exodus 20:13
You shall not murder.
Read in context
Numbers 35:30–34
If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
Read in context
Exodus 21:12–14
Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.
Read in context
Numbers 35:16–21
If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 21:7–9
and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.
Read in context
Genesis 9:5–6
And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
Read in context
Matthew 5:33
Again, you have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’
Read in context