²¹“You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ ²²But 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, ²⁴leave 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. ²⁶And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.

Teaching about Adultery

²⁷“You have heard the commandment that says, ‘You must not commit adultery.’ ²⁸But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹So if your eye—even your good eye^*—causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. ³⁰And if your hand—even your stronger hand^*—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

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Footnotes

*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.’
*5:23 Greek gift; also in 5:24.
*5:29 Greek your right eye.
*5:30 Greek your right hand.