Matthew 5 22

Matthew 5:22 kjv

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 nkjv

But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:22 niv

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, 'Raca,' is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Matthew 5:22 esv

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 5:22 nlt

But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.

Matthew 5 verses

Matthew 5 22 Meaning

Matthew 5:22 reveals that true righteousness extends beyond outward actions to the innermost intentions and words. Jesus teaches that anger and contemptuous speech towards a brother are spiritually equivalent to murder in terms of their destructive potential and moral gravity, leading to various degrees of divine judgment, even eternal condemnation. He exposes the heart as the wellspring of sin, demanding a transformation that addresses malice and animosity at its root.

Matthew 5 22 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Mat 5-7), specifically within His section on deepening the understanding of the Mosaic Law (Mat 5:21-48). Jesus declares that He has not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, raising the standard of righteousness for those in His Kingdom. Following His discussion on the lasting nature of the Law and the need for a "greater righteousness" than the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus begins a series of six antitheses (contrasts). In these, He first quotes an established Law or tradition ("You have heard that it was said...") and then gives His own authoritative teaching ("But I say unto you...").

Matthew 5:22 is the first antithesis, addressing the Sixth Commandment, "You shall not murder." Historically, the scribes and Pharisees emphasized external compliance, teaching that only the physical act of murder was condemned. Jesus directly challenges this superficial understanding, asserting that anger and contemptuous words, which precede physical violence and flow from a defiled heart, are also gravely sinful and subject to judgment, establishing a spiritual principle over mere legalistic observance. The references to "judgment," "council," and "hell fire" draw on the Jewish judicial system and understanding of ultimate divine punishment, familiar to Jesus' original audience.

Matthew 5 22 Word analysis

• But I say unto you: Jesus' authoritative declaration, characteristic of the Sermon on the Mount, asserting His divine authority to interpret and fulfill the Law, contrasting His teaching with traditional rabbinic interpretations ("You have heard that it was said"). This highlights a new era of understanding.
• whosoever is angry: From Greek orgizomai (οργίζομαι), which can mean to become angry or to be angry. It refers to an ongoing state or settled attitude of hostility and indignation, not merely a fleeting moment of frustration or righteous indignation. It denotes a simmering resentment or a sustained hostile disposition.
• with his brother: From Greek adelphos (ἀδελφός), meaning "a brother," "kinsman," or "fellow human being." In this context, it primarily refers to a fellow Jew within the covenant community, and by extension, a fellow believer in Christ. It emphasizes that these internal and verbal sins are especially heinous when directed towards those within the community, diminishing the bond of love.
• without a cause: From Greek eike (εἰκῆ), meaning "idly," "vainly," "without reason or purpose." This phrase is absent in some of the oldest and most reliable Greek manuscripts (e.g., Codex Vaticanus, Codex Sinaiticus), suggesting it might have been a later scribal addition. If it were part of the original text, it would imply that some anger, such as righteous indignation against sin or injustice, is permissible (cf. Eph 4:26). However, its probable omission in the earliest manuscripts suggests that any anger originating from an unrighteous heart and leading to contempt is condemned by God. Many scholars consider it to not be part of the original text.
• shall be in danger of the judgment: Refers to the lowest tier of Jewish local courts (the "Beit Din," a tribunal of three to twenty-three judges), which handled minor cases and could impose penalties such as scourging or financial restitution. Jesus implies that unrighteous anger is as serious as offenses tried in these courts.
• and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca:
  • Raca: An Aramaic derogatory term (רֵקָא) meaning "empty one," "worthless," "blockhead," "dunce," "stupid," or "empty-headed fellow." It expresses utter contempt for someone's intellect or general worth, stripping them of their dignity and devaluing their person. It represents speech that verbally assails a person's identity and value.
  • shall be in danger of the council: Refers to the Great Sanhedrin (Greek synedrion, συνέδριον), the supreme Jewish judicial council, typically located in Jerusalem. This court dealt with more serious crimes, potentially including capital offenses. The escalation from "judgment" to "council" indicates an increasing severity of the sin in Jesus' estimation.
• but whosoever shall say, Thou fool:
  • Thou fool: From Greek moros (μωρέ), meaning "morally senseless," "impious," "depraved," or "rebellious against God." This term, unlike "Raca," which questions intellect, implies deep moral or spiritual defect, even a denial of God's existence or spiritual truth (Psa 14:1). It is an even graver insult, condemning a person's very being or character, not just their intelligence. Such a condemnation suggests that the speaker is taking on a judgment reserved for God alone.
  • shall be in danger of hell fire: From Greek Geennan tou pyros (γέενναν τοῦ πυρός).
    • Gehenna: Refers to the Valley of Hinnom, a ravine outside Jerusalem, historically notorious as a place where child sacrifices to Molech were practiced (2 Kin 23:10; Jer 7:31). By Jesus' time, it had become the city's burning garbage dump, often associated with perpetual fires and corruption. It thus served as a vivid metaphor for final judgment, utter destruction, and eternal damnation.
    • Fire: Symbolizes purification, testing, and ultimate judgment or punishment. The combination signifies the most severe and ultimate spiritual condemnation for deep-seated malice expressed through contemptuous speech.

Matthew 5 22 Bonus section

The potential scribal omission of "without a cause" in older manuscripts has significant theological implications. If the phrase was not originally present, it implies that all unbridled anger towards a brother, regardless of perceived justification, is viewed by Jesus as deeply problematic and subject to divine judgment. This reinforces the radical call for love and inner purity within the Kingdom of Heaven. It shifts the focus from identifying "justified" anger to eradicating malicious anger altogether, urging a fundamental transformation of the heart's disposition towards others. The passage is a stark reminder that salvation through Christ demands a changed life, beginning with the heart and extending to every word and interaction. It underscores that contemptuous speech is not a trivial sin but indicative of a deeper spiritual malignancy.

Matthew 5 22 Commentary

Matthew 5:22 penetrates beyond the outward act of murder to the internal impulses and spoken words that embody contempt for another human life. Jesus declares that malicious anger is fundamentally a violation of the Law of love, echoing the same spirit as murder. The ascending scale of judgments—local court, Sanhedrin, Gehenna—corresponds to a growing intensity of inward malice and outward contempt. To call someone "Raca" is to dehumanize them, implying worthlessness. To call someone "fool" (moros) is to deny their spiritual value and impute godlessness, encroaching upon divine judgment. This verse stresses that our words, rooted in our hearts, have profound spiritual consequences. It teaches that the value God places on human life, created in His image, is so immense that even contemptuous thoughts and words carry eternal weight. It compels us to purify our hearts, control our tongues, and live in reconciliation and love, for love is the fulfilling of the Law.Practical examples include: harboring resentment against a family member over an old slight, engaging in contemptuous gossip, using dehumanizing labels for those with whom we disagree, or wishing ill upon someone rather than praying for their welfare. All these fall under the spirit of this warning.