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 isn't just saying that killing is bad; he's showing how internal anger and contempt are the seeds of murder. He connects escalating insults—from "Raca" (worthless!) to "Fool!"—with increasingly severe consequences, revealing that the law's intent reaches the heart's attitude, not just outward actions. This progression illustrates that even words carry immense weight, reflecting a spiritual reality far deeper than the religious leaders of the day acknowledged.
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 expanding on the commandment "You shall not murder" by showing that it extends beyond the physical act to include anger and insults. He contrasts his teaching with the superficial interpretation of the law by the scribes and Pharisees, who focused only on outward actions. This teaching emphasizes the internal state of the heart and the destructive nature of hateful words, warning of severe consequences for unrighteous anger and contempt towards others.
The Old Testament law said 'You shall not kill.' Simple enough, right? But Jesus turns this on its head, revealing that the commandment goes so much deeper than just the physical act.
Jesus isn't just restating the commandment against murder; he's revealing its heart. He argues that the commandment isn't just about actions but also about intentions and words.
Jesus uses the chilling phrase 'hell of fire.' What does this intense imagery signify, and why would he use such a visceral term to describe the consequences of sinful anger?
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The 'hell of fire' Jesus refers to is not a generic place of punishment, but a specific, potent symbol rooted in Jerusalem's history: the Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna).
Understand the original words
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' teaching here elevates the law beyond mere outward actions, addressing the internal state of the heart and the destructive power of words. By referencing earthly courts like 'the judgment' and 'the council,' and the horrific Gehenna, he highlights escalating degrees of culpability before God, revealing that true righteousness begins with controlling anger and contempt.
c. 600 BC - 586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
The Babylonian Empire, under Nebuchadnezzar II, conquers Judah, destroys Jerusalem and its Temple, and deports a significant portion of the population. This event marked a profound crisis for Jewish identity and theology.
c. 539 BC
Persian Conquest of Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia conquers Babylon. This shift in power eventually leads to the decree allowing exiled Jews to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their Temple.
c. 200 BC
Establishment of the Sanhedrin
The Great Sanhedrin, the supreme Jewish court and legislative body, is established. It comprised 72 elders and held authority over major religious and legal matters, influencing the judicial framework Jesus references.
c. 1st century BC - 1st century AD
Use of Gehenna as Symbol of Punishment
The Valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) near Jerusalem, once a site of child sacrifice and later a refuse dump with perpetual fires, becomes a potent symbol for the place of future punishment for the wicked in Jewish thought.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Galilean Ministry
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. This period includes the Sermon on the Mount, where he delivers his most famous teachings on the law and righteousness.
This passage directly links hatred for a brother to the sin of murder, echoing Jesus' teaching that anger and contempt can be precursors to actual killing.
James 3:6This verse also uses the imagery of the 'unruly tongue' setting 'the whole course of one's life on fire,' drawing a parallel to the destructive power of words Jesus condemns.
Romans 12:18This passage provides a direct command to 'live peaceably with all,' highlighting the importance of maintaining harmony and reconciliation, which is the counterpoint to the anger Jesus addresses.
Galatians 5:19-21This text lists 'hatred, variance, wrath, strife' as works of the flesh that will prevent one from inheriting the kingdom of God, reinforcing the seriousness of the attitudes Jesus is condemning.
Proverbs 14:17This Proverb states that 'a quick-tempered person will act foolishly,' connecting rash anger with foolishness, which aligns with Jesus' gradation from anger to calling someone a 'fool'.
vincentMatthew 5:22: "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."
Hell-fire (τήν γέενναν τοῦ πυρός)Rev., more accurately, the hell of fire. The word Gehenna, rendered hell, occurs outside of the Gospels only at James 3:6. It is the Greek representative of the Hebrew Ge-Hinnom, or V…
clarkeMatthew 5:22: "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."
Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause - ὁ οργιζομενος - εικη, who is vainly incensed. "This translation is literal; and the very objectionable phrase, without a cause, is left out, εικη being more properly…
Jesus isn't just saying that killing is bad; he's showing how internal anger and contempt are the seeds of murder. He connects escalating insults—from "Raca" (worthless!) to "Fool!"—with increasingly severe consequences, revealing that the law's intent reaches the heart's attitude, not just outward actions. This progression illustrates that even words carry immense weight, reflecting a spiritual reality far deeper than the religious leaders of the day acknowledged.
Jesus is expanding on the commandment "You shall not murder" by showing that it extends beyond the physical act to include anger and insults. He contrasts his teaching with the superficial interpretation of the law by the scribes and Pharisees, who focused only on outward actions. This teaching emphasizes the internal state of the heart and the destructive nature of hateful words, warning of severe consequences for unrighteous anger and contempt towards others.
Jesus is expanding on the commandment "You shall not murder" by showing that it extends beyond the physical act to include anger and insults. He contrasts his teaching with the superficial interpretation of the law by the scribes and Pharisees, who focused only on outward actions. This teaching emphasizes the internal state of the heart and the destructive nature of hateful words, warning of severe consequences for unrighteous anger and contempt towards others.
"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." — Jesus isn't just saying that killing is bad; he's showing how internal anger and contempt are the seeds of murder. He connects escalating insults—from "Raca" (worthless!) to "Fool!"—with increasing…
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Last reviewed October 2026