Matthew 5 26

Matthew 5:26 kjv

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

Matthew 5:26 nkjv

Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 5:26 niv

Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 5:26 esv

Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 5:26 nlt

And if that happens, you surely won't be free again until you have paid the last penny.

Matthew 5 verses

Matthew 5 26 Meaning

Matthew 5:26 delivers a solemn declaration by Jesus, warning that if one does not settle their conflict or "debt"—be it a literal legal dispute or, more profoundly, the spiritual obligation of reconciliation arising from anger and ill-will—they will face inescapable and complete consequences until the uttermost restitution is made. It underscores the critical necessity of immediate and thorough resolution of interpersonal grievances from the heart.

Matthew 5 26 Context

Matthew 5:26 concludes a passage (Matt 5:21-26) where Jesus reinterprets the Mosaic Law regarding murder, elevating the standard beyond mere physical acts to encompass internal attitudes and words like anger, insults ("Raca"), and condemnation ("fool"). This teaching is part of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7), Jesus' foundational discourse on the ethics and righteousness required for entrance into and life within the Kingdom of Heaven. He states that the righteousness of His disciples must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (Matt 5:20).

The immediate context emphasizes that true worship is hindered by unresolved interpersonal conflict. Jesus instructs that one should leave their offering at the altar and first be reconciled with their brother before presenting it (Matt 5:23-24). Verse 25-26 serves as an urgent parable or legal illustration. It warns against delaying reconciliation, depicting the spiritual consequence as a journey to a legal magistrate, leading to imprisonment until the "last farthing" of debt is paid. This reflects the common legal practice of debt imprisonment in both Jewish and Roman societies of the time. The implication is that divine justice will see every offense addressed unless personal restitution or reconciliation precedes judgment.

Matthew 5 26 Word analysis

• "Truly" (ἀμὴν, amēn): A transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "so be it" or "firmly." When used by Jesus to introduce a statement ("Truly, I say to you"), it functions as a solemn, authoritative declaration of truth, signaling the gravity and certainty of what follows. It asserts His unique divine authority to speak eternal truths.
• "I say to you" (λέγω σοι, legō soi): Further underscores Jesus' personal authority and direct address to His audience, differentiating His teaching from the common rabbinic method of quoting previous authorities.
• "you will never get out" (οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃς, ou mē exelthēs): The Greek uses a strong double negative (οὐ μή), emphatically asserting that there is no possibility of release. It depicts an inescapable consequence, a state of imprisonment or severe spiritual distress.
• "until" (ἕως ἂν, heōs an): This conjunction denotes a conditional duration. While escape is impossible until certain terms are met, it also implies that escape is possible once those terms are fully satisfied. It points to a finite period of consequence contingent on restitution.
• "you have paid" (ἀποδῷς, apodōs): From ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi), meaning "to give back," "to repay," "to render what is due," "to make full restitution." It signifies a complete discharge of an obligation, emphasizing a thorough, exact settlement of the "debt."
• "the last farthing" (τὸν ἔσχατον κοδράντην, ton eschaton kodrantēn):
  • κοδράντην (kodrantēn): A "quadrans," the smallest Roman copper coin, equivalent to 1/64 of a denarius (a day's wage) or two leptons (the "widow's mites" from Mark 12:42). It signifies the absolute minimal unit of payment.
  • ἔσχατον (eschaton): Meaning "last," "uttermost," or "extreme." Combined with kodrantēn, it emphasizes that every single detail, every smallest particle of what is owed, must be satisfied. Nothing is to be overlooked or left unpaid.

Words-group analysis:

• "Truly, I say to you": This phrase functions as a strong introductory statement of divine certainty and unchallengeable truth, setting a serious tone for the impending warning.
• "you will never get out until you have paid the last farthing": This vivid metaphor uses a legal scenario familiar to the audience to illustrate a profound spiritual truth. It implies that unaddressed conflict and sin have inevitable, exacting consequences. It highlights God's demand for complete satisfaction or resolution for offenses, signifying that there are no shortcuts or partial payments when it comes to righteous conduct and reconciliation in the Kingdom. Every ounce of wrong must be made right.

Matthew 5 26 Bonus section

The metaphor of being "handed over to the jailers" and having to pay "the last farthing" also foreshadows concepts found later in Matthew, notably the parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt 18:34-35), where the unmerciful servant is delivered to the tormentors until he should pay all his debt. This suggests that the consequences mentioned in Matthew 5:26 are not simply a literal civil prison but potentially represent severe spiritual or divine judgment, distress, or the natural painful outcomes of being out of harmony with God and others until a full "payment"—i.e., sincere repentance, reconciliation, and righteous living—is made. It strongly links the need for human forgiveness with receiving divine forgiveness. It is a vital teaching for daily living out the ethics of the Kingdom.

Matthew 5 26 Commentary

Matthew 5:26 serves as a powerful conclusion to Jesus' teaching on radical righteousness in the realm of human relationships. It shifts from internal anger and abusive speech to the stark reality of external, inescapable consequences for those who refuse to reconcile. While framed in the imagery of a civil legal proceeding (being handed over to the police, then the jailer, resulting in prison for an unpaid debt), its primary application is spiritual. Jesus uses this common, dire scenario to underscore the gravity of neglecting personal offenses and the urgent need for reconciliation.

The "farthing" is key; it signifies that God requires complete, full restitution or settlement for every wrong, no matter how small it seems. There is no partial credit, no forgotten minor transgression. This verse demands a thorough, painstaking effort to reconcile and make right any wrong, whether we are the offended or the offender. It's a call to immediate action, for delay compounds the issue and leads to a more difficult "payment" later. This divine expectation is not merely about avoiding physical imprisonment but about escaping the spiritual bondage and condemnation that arise from unaddressed sin and unforgiveness.

Practically, this verse calls believers to:

• Act quickly to resolve disputes (Eph 4:26).
• Seek true reconciliation and not just superficial peace.
• Be willing to pay the "cost" of reconciliation—whether it's humbling oneself to apologize, making restitution, or extending forgiveness, even when it is difficult.