Matthew 5:21
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus highlights that the commandment wasn't just about the physical act of murder, but the underlying anger and hostility. The common understanding focused on avoiding the court's judgment for the deed, but Jesus points to an even deeper accountability for the emotions that lead to it.
Jesus is beginning his famous Sermon on the Mount, where he intends to expound the true meaning of God's law, contrasting it with the corrupted interpretations of the religious leaders of his day. He starts with the commandment against murder, presenting the common understanding that it only referred to the physical act and its immediate consequences. Jesus will then show that the law's intent, and his own teaching, goes far deeper, addressing the anger and malice in the heart.
Jesus starts his most famous sermon by seemingly quoting a commandment. But is he arguing against the Old Testament? Or is he challenging something else entirely?
Jesus isn't discarding the Law of Moses; he's reclaiming its true spirit!
The commandment says 'You shall not murder.' Sounds pretty straightforward, right? But Jesus immediately points to a 'judgment' that's waiting for those who cross the line. What kind of judgment, and for whom?
The religious leaders of Jesus' day had reduced the commandment against murder to a matter of mere external compliance.
Understand the original words
phoneuō · Greek Verb
The unlawful, intentional taking of a human life, which violates the image of God in man and is explicitly forbidden in the Decalogue.
enochos · Greek Adjective
Being bound by or subject to a legal or moral obligation, specifically the penalty or consequence resulting from breaking divine or civil law.
krisis · Greek Noun
The process or result of evaluating actions and determining consequences; it often refers to God's final evaluation of human deeds.
Jesus is directly confronting the common interpretations of the Sixth Commandment prevalent in his day. These interpretations, often passed down through oral tradition, had narrowed the command against murder to only the physical act, while Jesus emphasizes the inner disposition of the heart.
c. 1446 BC
Ten Commandments Given at Sinai
God gives the foundational Law, including the commandment 'You shall not murder' (Exodus 20:13), to the Israelites.
c. 1400 BC
Law of Moses Codified
The Law of Moses, which includes regulations and punishments for murder (e.g., Leviticus 24:21, Numbers 35:16), is further elaborated.
c. 400 BC
Hebrew Bible Canon Forms
The authoritative collection of Jewish scriptures, including the Pentateuch, is largely established, serving as the basis for ongoing interpretation.
c. 200 BC - AD 30
Period of Oral Tradition and Interpretation
Jewish scribes and rabbis develop extensive oral traditions and interpretations of the Law, often narrowing or altering its original intent.
This passage is cited by commentators as a foundational instance of God's prohibition against murder, predating the Mosaic Law itself.
Exodus 20:13This is the direct Old Testament commandment that Jesus is referencing, highlighting the continuity of God's law from Moses to Christ.
Deuteronomy 5:17This is another instance of the Ten Commandments from Deuteronomy, reinforcing the divine origin and immutability of the prohibition against killing.
Romans 7:7Paul uses a similar structure when discussing the law's prohibition of coveting, showing that the law reaches into internal desires, not just outward actions, mirroring Jesus' approach here.
James 2:10-11This passage emphasizes that breaking even one commandment breaks the whole law, aligning with Jesus' point that the spirit of the commandment against murder is violated by anger and hateful speech, not just the act itself.
clarkeMatthew 5:21: "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:"
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time - τοις αρχαιοις, to or by the ancients. By the ancients, we may understand those who lived before the law, and those who lived under it; for murder was, in the most solemn manner, forbidden before, as well as under, the law, Genesis 9:5 , Genesis 9:6 . But it is very likely that our Lord refers he…
barnesMatthew 5:21: "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:"
Ye have heard - Or, this is the common interpretation among the Jews. Jesus proceeds here to comment on some prevailing opinions among the Jews; to show that the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was defective; and that people needed a better righteousness, or they could not be saved. He illustrates what he meant by that better righteousn…
Jesus highlights that the commandment wasn't just about the physical act of murder, but the underlying anger and hostility. The common understanding focused on avoiding the court's judgment for the deed, but Jesus points to an even deeper accountability for the emotions that lead to it.
Jesus is beginning his famous Sermon on the Mount, where he intends to expound the true meaning of God's law, contrasting it with the corrupted interpretations of the religious leaders of his day. He starts with the commandment against murder, presenting the common understanding that it only referred to the physical act and its immediate consequences. Jesus will then show that the law's intent, and his own teaching, goes far deeper, addressing the anger and malice in the heart.
Jesus is beginning his famous Sermon on the Mount, where he intends to expound the true meaning of God's law, contrasting it with the corrupted interpretations of the religious leaders of his day. He starts with the commandment against murder, presenting the common understanding that it only referred to the physical act and its immediate consequences. Jesus will then show that the law's intent, and his own teaching, goes far deeper, addressing the anger and malice in the heart.
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c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus Delivers the Sermon on the Mount
Jesus addresses his disciples and a crowd, expounding on the true meaning of God's Law, contrasting it with the popular interpretations of the day.
"“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’" — Jesus highlights that the commandment wasn't just about the physical act of murder, but the underlying anger and hostility. The common understanding focused on avoiding the court's judgment for the d…
