Devine Scripture

Matthew 5:21

What does Matthew 5:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 5:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 5:21 means

Jesus begins His reinterpretation of the Law by referencing the commandment against murder, a well-known prohibition from the Ten Commandments. He acknowledges the traditional understanding: killing a person puts one in danger of human judgment. This sets up a contrast with His subsequent teaching, where He will reveal a deeper, internal meaning of the commandment that goes beyond the visible act itself.

Matthew 5:21 in context

Matthew 5 — The Beatitudes

Jesus opens his Sermon on the Mount with eight pronouncements that turn the world's value system upside down. Blessing belongs not to the proud and self-sufficient but to the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the hungry for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. In a few sentences he sketches the character of the citizens of the kingdom of heaven, and then calls them salt of the earth and light of the world.

  • Kingdom ethics
  • Inner righteousness
  • True blessedness
  • Light and salt

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

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:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

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:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

You have knowledge that it was said in old times, You may not put to death; and, Whoever puts to death will be in danger of being judged:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not kill, and whoever may kill shall be in danger of the judgment;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Ye have heard that it was said to the ancients, Thou shalt not kill; but whosoever shall kill shall be subject to the judgment.

Context

This is the first of several "You have heard... but I say to you" statements, marking a major section of the sermon where Jesus reinterprets the Mosaic Law. It introduces the theme of anger, setting up Jesus' radical expansion of the meaning of murder to include the heart's attitude, which is elaborated in the subsequent verses.

v.20For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.

v.21This passage

v.22but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Numbers 35:30

    Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be slain at the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall not testify against any person that he die.

  • Numbers 35:16

    But if he smote him with an instrument of iron, so that he died, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death.

  • 2 Samuel 20:18

    Then she spake, saying, They were wont to speak in old time, saying, They shall surely ask counsel at Abel: and so they ended the matter.

  • Job 8:8

    For inquire, I pray thee, of the former age, And apply thyself to that which their fathers have searched out

  • 1 Kings 2:5

    Moreover thou knowest also what Joab the son of Zeruiah did unto me, even what he did to the two captains of the hosts of Israel, unto Abner the son of Ner, and unto Amasa the son of Jether, whom he slew, and shed the blood of war in peace, and put the blood of war upon his girdle that was about his loins, and in his shoes that were on his feet.

  • Genesis 9:5

    And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it: and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man.

Sermon ideas from Matthew 5:21

Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.

  • What Matthew 5:21 teaches us about kingdom ethics

  • What Matthew 5:21 teaches us about inner righteousness

  • What Matthew 5:21 teaches us about true blessedness

  • What Matthew 5:21 teaches us about light and salt

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