Bible Strands
Matthew 5:21
You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his immediate audience in the Sermon on the Mount, positioning this teaching directly after his warning that kingdom righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. He speaks to those listening as he transitions from external compliance to internal moral accountability.
The words — φονεύσεις (phoneuseis) literally means "you will murder," while ἠκούσατε (ēkousate) translates directly to "you have heard." These verbs frame the contrast between inherited tradition and Jesus' own authoritative declaration.
The thread — The prohibition against killing originates in Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17 as the Sixth Commandment, with Numbers 35:30 detailing the judicial penalty for the act. Jesus explicitly references this Mosaic foundation before expanding its application.
Why it lands — The text states that traditional teaching forbade murder and prescribed judgment for the act. The reader must acknowledge that Jesus treats the written command as a baseline, requiring examination of the heart attitudes that precede the physical act.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
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:
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 5:17 You shall not murder.
- Exodus 20:13 You shall not murder.
- Numbers 35:30 If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death on the testimony of the witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of a lone witness.
- Exodus 21:12 Whoever strikes and kills a man must surely be put to death.
- Numbers 35:16 If, however, anyone strikes a person with an iron object and kills him, he is a murderer; the murderer must surely be put to death.
- Deuteronomy 21:7 and they shall declare, “Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it.
- Genesis 9:5 And surely I will require the life of any man or beast by whose hand your lifeblood is shed. I will demand an accounting from anyone who takes the life of his fellow man:
- Numbers 35:12 You are to have these cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the manslayer will not die until he stands trial before the assembly.
- Job 8:8 Please inquire of past generations and consider the discoveries of their fathers.
- Matthew 5:27 You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’