Section 5:21–26
Jesus taught about anger and reconciling
In this section, Jesus explained one difference between the way that Jewish religious leaders interpreted the law of Moses and the correct interpretation of the law. Jewish religious leaders taught that God will judge a person who murders. Jesus taught that murder is the outward sign of evil inner attitudes. He taught that God will judge a person who is angry just as he will judge a person who has murdered. He spoke in such a strong way to show that reconciling is very important (5:23–26).
The rest of chapter five as well as chapters six and seven describe how a believer’s righteousness is to surpass “that of the scribes and Pharisees” (5:20).
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
Avoid becoming angry and reconcile with your fellowman
-or-
Make peace with people whom you have offended
-or-
Teaching about anger and reconciling
Paragraph 5:21–22
In 5:21, Jesus continued his sermon. In some languages it may be natural to indicate that Jesus continued speaking here. For example:
⌊Then Jesus said,⌋
-or-
⌊Jesus continued speaking⌋
5:21a
You have heard that it was said to the ancients: The clause it was said to the ancients refers to the law that Moses gave to the Israelites. The people listening to Jesus would know that he was referring to the law of Moses.
In some languages, it may be necessary to use more direct language. For example:
You have heard that the law of Moses says (New Living Translation (1996))
-or-
You have heard what Moses commanded our ancestors long ago
You have heard: The clause You have heard indicates that most people had not read the commandments themselves. They had heard someone read them or explain them. In addition, this clause implies that everyone was familiar with the words that Jesus would say.
Here is another way to translate this clause:
You have heard ⌊the teachers of the law say that⌋
it was said to the ancients: The word ancients refers to the ancestors of the Jews who lived several hundred years before Jesus.
This clause it was said to the ancients is passive.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
• Use a passive form. For example:
our ancestors were told (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
our forefathers were told (Revised English Bible)
• Use an active form. The law, Moses, or even other teachers are all possible agents who could have spoken this command to the rest of the Israelites. For example:
⌊the law⌋ commanded the people long ago
-or-
the people long ago received ⌊this command:⌋
5:21b
Do not murder: Most versions are like the Berean Standard Bible and use the word murder to translate the Greek verb in this clause. Most scholars also understand the Greek word to mean murder, rather than the more general word “kill.” To murder means to kill someone unlawfully. Murder generally does not occur when a person kills someone in war, or when the government executes a criminal, or when a person accidentally kills someone.
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
Do not kill ⌊anyone⌋
-or-
Do not ⌊unlawfully⌋ kill ⌊another person⌋
Here Jesus quoted one of the Ten Commandments from the Old Testament (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17). In Moses’ time, when God spoke to the people of Israel, he often used the singular “you,” as in this verse. He did this because he considered the people to be one nation. In the same way, the clause Do not murder is singular in Greek just as it is in the Hebrew Old Testament. But this commandment is general and addressed to everyone.
In some languages, people make general commands by using “you” (plural), or by using “we,” or by using “he,” “one,” or “a person.” For example:
You (plur.) must not murder ⌊anyone⌋.
-or-
A person must not murder ⌊anyone⌋.
Here, and in similar contexts, use whichever form is most natural in your language.
5:21c
and: Here the word and indicates that 5:21c is the second part of what the people had heard regarding murder.
Anyone who murders:
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
If you commit murder (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
the person who kills another person
-or-
whoever murders (English Standard Version)
will be subject to judgment: The Greek clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as will be subject to judgment refers to being tried before a judge (or judges). This probably implies that the person who commits murder will be both judged and punished.
This clause is passive. Here are some other ways to translate it:
• Use a passive form. For example:
will be judged ⌊and punished⌋
-or-
will be brought to trial (Good News Translation)
• Use an active form. For example:
⌊the local authorities⌋ will judge him
-or-
⌊they⌋ will judge/try him ⌊and punish him⌋
Here, this clause refers to a human court of law. But 5:22a repeats this clause, where it probably refers to God’s judgment. If possible, translate this clause in a way that you can use it in both contexts.
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