Matthew 5:21-22
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Jesus isn't just quoting the Ten Commandments here; He's exposing how the religious leaders of His day had narrowed its meaning to exclude anger, not just outward murder. They focused on the act of killing, but Jesus reveals the deeper intent of the law was to guard the heart from destructive rage and hatred.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is beginning the Sermon on the Mount, moving from blessings to the core of his teaching about God's kingdom. He addresses the common understanding of the Old Testament Law, contrasting it with the deeper, internal righteousness he calls his followers to live by. This passage specifically tackles the commandment against murder, challenging the purely external interpretation and setting the stage for Jesus to reveal its true, heart-level meaning.
Jesus starts with 'You have heard...' – but what does that mean for how we receive God's Word today? It's not just about the text on the page, but the message passed down.
The Echo of Tradition
Jesus isn't just quoting the Ten Commandments directly from Exodus 20. He's referencing the popular understanding and oral traditions circulating among the Jewish people of his day. The commentators point out that "Ye have heard" refers to what people were taught by their religious leaders, the scribes and rabbis.
More Than the Written Word
This teaching wasn't always a perfect reflection of the original command. Often, these traditions narrowed the Law's meaning, focusing on outward actions while missing the deeper intent. Jesus is about to correct these interpretations, showing that the Law's true meaning goes far beyond mere legalistic compliance.
The commandment 'You shall not murder' seems clear. But Jesus reveals a truth that expands its scope dramatically. It’s not just about what you do, but what's in your heart.
From Act to Attitude
The common understanding, according to the commentaries, was that the sixth commandment strictly prohibited the act of murder. If you didn't physically kill someone, you were considered in the clear.
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A Deeper Violation
Jesus, however, is about to reveal that the Law, given by God, is spiritual and absolute. It targets not just the outward action but the inner disposition – the anger, hatred, and contempt that fuel the desire to harm another.
Jesus's teaching here isn't to abolish the Law, but to restore its original, profound meaning. He's cutting through the superficial interpretations to expose the heart of obedience God truly desires.
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.
orgizō · Greek Verb
A state of intense emotional displeasure; in the New Testament, it often warns against unbridled or self-righteous wrath that leads to sin.
adelphos · Greek Noun
While referring to a male sibling, it is frequently used in the New Testament to denote a fellow believer or a member of the covenant community.
rhaka · Greek Noun
Derived from an Aramaic term of contempt meaning 'empty-headed' or 'worthless,' it reflects a heart that devalues a person made in God's image.
synedrion · Greek Noun
The supreme religious and civil assembly of the Jewish people in Jerusalem, functioning as a high court.
mōros · Greek Noun
In a biblical sense, this denotes not just a lack of intelligence but a moral and spiritual rebellion against God's wisdom and authority.
geenna · Greek Noun
Derived from the Valley of Hinnom, this term was used by Jesus to describe the place of final, eternal punishment and separation from God.
pyr · Greek Noun
A powerful symbol of God's holiness, presence, or judgment, representing either the purifying work of the Spirit or the destructive power of divine wrath.
Jesus is directly confronting the common interpretations of the Mosaic Law by the scribes and Pharisees of His day, which had narrowed the commandment against murder to only the physical act, ignoring the inner disposition of the heart.
c. 1446 BC
Giving of the Ten Commandments
God gives the Ten Commandments to Moses on Mount Sinai, including the prohibition against murder.
c. 1445-1405 BC
Laws for Israelite Society
The Law of Moses provides detailed regulations for justice and capital offenses, including murder, to be administered by Israelite courts.
c. 400 BC - 1st Century AD
Development of Jewish Oral Law and Interpretation
Over centuries, Jewish scribes and rabbis develop extensive oral traditions and interpretations (Mishnah, Talmud) that increasingly shape the understanding and application of the written Law.
c. 27 BC - 30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and debating with Jewish leaders about the true meaning of the Law and God's kingdom.
This passage shows the earliest instance of murder after creation, illustrating the sin's ancient and devastating presence in human history, a direct precursor to the Mosaic command.
Exodus 20:13This is the direct commandment from the Ten Commandments that Jesus is quoting and reinterpreting, providing the foundational Old Testament law.
Numbers 35:16-21This passage details the penalties for murder under the Mosaic Law, showing the gravity with which the act was taken and the 'judgment' Jesus alludes to.
Deuteronomy 5:17This is another instance of the Ten Commandments being reiterated, reinforcing the divine prohibition against killing within the Israelite covenant.
Romans 13:9This New Testament passage echoes the commandment not to murder, framing it within the broader context of love for one's neighbor as the fulfillment of the law.
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 isn't just quoting the Ten Commandments here; He's exposing how the religious leaders of His day had narrowed its meaning to exclude anger, not just outward murder. They focused on the act of killing, but Jesus reveals the deeper intent of the law was to guard the heart from destructive rage and hatred.
Jesus is beginning the Sermon on the Mount, moving from blessings to the core of his teaching about God's kingdom. He addresses the common understanding of the Old Testament Law, contrasting it with the deeper, internal righteousness he calls his followers to live by. This passage specifically tackles the commandment against murder, challenging the purely external interpretation and setting the stage for Jesus to reveal its true, heart-level meaning.
Jesus is beginning the Sermon on the Mount, moving from blessings to the core of his teaching about God's kingdom. He addresses the common understanding of the Old Testament Law, contrasting it with the deeper, internal righteousness he calls his followers to live by. This passage specifically tackles the commandment against murder, challenging the purely external interpretation and setting the stage for Jesus to reveal its true, heart-level meaning.
"“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother…" — Jesus isn't just quoting the Ten Commandments here; He's exposing how the religious leaders of His day had narrowed its meaning to exclude anger, not just outward murder. They focused on the act of k…
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Last reviewed October 2026
