Matthew 5:20–26

20 “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

Teaching about Anger

21 “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’* 22 But I say, if you are even angry with someone,* you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot,* you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone,* you are in danger of the fires of hell.*

23 “So if you are presenting a sacrifice* at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, 24 leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.

25 “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.*

*	5:21 Exod 20:13; Deut 5:17.
*	5:22a Some manuscripts add without cause.
*	5:22b Greek uses an Aramaic term of contempt: If you say to your brother, ‘Raca.’
*	5:22c Greek if you say, ‘You fool.’
*	5:22d Greek Gehenna; also in 5:29, 30.
*	5:23 Greek gift; also in 5:24.
*	5:26 Greek the last kodrantes [i.e., quadrans].