Matthew 5:22 Commentary - Abbott's Illustrated New Testament

Verse 22

Brother; any fellow-being.--The judgment; and inferior court of the Jews.--Raca; a term of opprobrious reproach, meaning worthless, senseless.--The council; the superior court of the Jews, called the Sanhedrim, which had jurisdiction over graver offences. This body is often alluded to in the New Testament. (Acts 5:27-41,6:12,22:30)--Thou fool. The connection which this verse sustains to Matthew 5:21, shows that, in respect to all these expressions, the Savior speaks of them only as used under the influence of angry, malicious, or revengeful feeling. He himself sometimes employed this last term in just rebuke of folly and sin. (Matthew 23:19.) The meaning of the whole passage is, that the displeasure of God, and the terrible penalties of his law, are incurred by feelings of malice and anger, however slight may be the outward expression of them.

Matthew 5:23,24. The meaning is, that we cannot offer acceptable worship to God, while cherishing unkind or hostile feelings towards a fellow-man, or neglecting to make reparation for any injury which we may have done him.