Matthew 5:21-26 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

Bible Comments

The fulfilled Law in Relation to the Teaching of the Scribes.

Matthew 5:21-26. Murder and Malice. Ye (have) heard: i.e. in the synagogues. The addition to the sixth commandment represents the tradition of the elders; the judgement means legal proceedings. Jesus shows that the commandment involves more than the act of murder; it embraces also feelings and words. Anger, let alone murder, is a crime, and involves judgment at God's hands. Without cause is rightly omitted: it weakens the sharp antithesis of Jesus-' words. In the Raca sentence Jesus returns to current Jewish teaching. As to Matthew 5:21 He opposed His own teaching (Matthew 5:22 a), so to this (Matthew 5:22 b) He opposes Matthew 5:22 c. Your teachers say that abusive language such as R aca is punishable by the local court (there was a sanhedrin or council of thirteen persons in every place with a population of over 120), but I say that abusive language such as Baca (the equivalent of - thou fool-') is punishable by the fire of Gehenna (Mark 9:43 *).

Matthew 5:23-26 further illustrates the foregoing principle. A sacrifice is not acceptable to God so long as the offerer is not reconciled to anyone whom he has wronged Matthew 5:23 f.). The literal and metaphorical in Matthew 5:25 f. are inextricably combined. On the face of them the words mean: If you are in debt to anyone, come to a settlement with him while you can, before he takes the matter into court, which will mean imprisonment. But something further is implied in 26: The Day of judgment is at hand when the creditor will be able to claim Divine justice. adversary: the injured party.

Matthew 5:21-26

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:

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,c shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;

24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

25 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.

26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.