02 · Words of Jesus

Anger and Murder

Matthew 5:21–26

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Jesus teaches on a hillside while two men in the foreground are in conflict with one another and the others listen.

Jesus begins with the command “You shall not murder.”

How should this be understood?

Choose a perspective

There is no score – choose the perspective you find closest and discuss why.

Discuss: Where is the line between ordinary anger and the contempt Jesus warns about?

After your discussion: compare with our assessment

Our assessment

A is closest to our understanding. Jesus shows that the problem behind murder begins earlier – in anger and contempt for other people. Jesus does not explicitly say that every feeling of anger is the same act as murder. Rather, he takes the command against murder beyond the outward act and directs attention toward the way people regard and treat one another. The movement toward reconciliation is important. The aim appears to be not only avoiding murder or insults, but seeking restoration where relationships have been damaged.

02 · Matthew 5:21–26

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Text & context

Full translation

21 You have heard that it was said to those of old, “You shall not murder,” and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. 22 But I tell you: Whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment. Whoever says to his brother, “Raka!” will be liable to the council. And whoever says, “You fool!” will be liable to the fire of Gehenna. 23 Therefore, if you are bringing your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come back and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your opponent while you are still on the way with him, so that your opponent does not hand you over to the judge, the judge to the guard, and you are thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you: You will not get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

Translated from the Greek text – SBLGNT

What is happening here?
This is the first of several sections in the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said ... But I tell you ...” Jesus begins with the prohibition against murder but shifts attention from the final outward act to things that can precede it: anger, contempt, and broken relationships. He then moves from warning to action. A person who becomes aware of a broken relationship is told to seek reconciliation – even before presenting a gift at the altar. The passage therefore concerns not only what a person must not do, but also what should be done when a relationship has been damaged.
Notice this

Jesus does not say, “If you remember that you have something against your brother.” He says that if you remember that your brother has something against you, you should first seek reconciliation. The instruction therefore places initiative for reconciliation on the person who becomes aware of the broken relationship.

Language & translation

From the Greek

ὀργιζόμενος – orgizómenos

is angry / becomes angry The form comes from orgízomai, to be or become angry. Matthew 5:22 also contains an important textual variant in which some manuscripts add eikē, “without cause.”

ῥακά – rhaká

Raka An Aramaic insult preserved in the Greek text. It is derogatory and expresses contempt. We therefore retain “Raka” in the translation and explain the expression here.

μωρέ – mōré

you fool A directly insulting form of address. In context, it is not merely a neutral judgment about someone's intelligence, but concerns the way one person speaks about and treats another.

διαλλάγηθι – diallágēthi

be reconciled The imperative in verse 24 is central. Jesus moves from anger and insult to a concrete instruction to seek restoration of the relationship.

Translation note

Independent English translation from the Greek text, using SBLGNT as the primary Greek edition.

Compare for yourself

Compare how different Bible translations handle:

  • whether “without cause” appears in Matthew 5:22
  • ῥακά – rhaká
  • μωρέ – mōré
  • γέενναν τοῦ πυρός – géennan tou pyrós
  • διαλλάγηθι – diallágēthi

Notice especially how these translation choices affect how broad or severe Jesus' warning appears.

Continue the conversation

Discuss further
  1. Is all anger something Jesus warns against, or can anger sometimes be justified?
  2. Why do you think Jesus connects murder, anger, and contempt?
  3. How far does our responsibility to seek reconciliation extend when another person has something against us?
  4. Are there situations where reconciliation should be pursued without restoring the relationship to what it was before?
Parallel passages
  • Mark 11:25
  • Luke 12:57–59
Sources
  • The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT), Matthew 5:21–26
  • SBLGNT textual apparatus for Matthew 5:22
  • Standard Greek lexical resources for orgízomai, rhaká, mōrós, and diallássō