Matthew 5:26
Encyclopedia
Matthew 5:26 is the twenty-sixth verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew
in the New Testament
and is part of the Sermon on the Mount
. Jesus
has just warned that if you do not reconcile with your enemies a judge
is likely to throw you in jail. In this verse Jesus mentions that your debts must be paid completely before one can leave.
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
The World English Bible
translates the passage as:
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 5:26
This verse opens with a similar phrase to that of Matthew 5:22
, often translated as "amen
I say to you." This is a popular phrase in Matthew, that Schweizer notes usually introduces something eschatological. This verse is normally taken as a metaphor for how God most be pleased. France notes that it is clear that for God has no half-measures, that even for a slight debt punishment will still be full.
Nolland notes that there is no tradition of imprisonment until a fine is paid in the Jewish legal tradition. The allusions in the verse are to the Greco-Roman system of justice, which did have such punishments, and was in place at the time in Roman occupied Palestine. The coin mentioned is also Roman. The word translated as farthing in the KJV and penny
in the WEB in Greek is a quadrans
, as implied by the translations this was a coin of low value. In the Roman currency
system of the time the Quadrans was the lowest valued coin. The very similar verse at Luke 12:59 mentions a mite, a Jewish coin worth even less than a quadrans.
This is one of a small group of verses that have been advanced as Biblical references to purgatory
, and one that was attacked by the early Protestant reformers. Schweizer agrees and states that the waiting reference is simply a link to the analogy begun in the earlier verse. Schweizer also notes that this verse jars somewhat with the previous part of the parable
as debt
or fine
s have not been mentioned. To Schweizer this implies that Jesus is being metaphorical rather than discussing actual legal problems.
Gospel of Matthew
The Gospel According to Matthew is one of the four canonical gospels, one of the three synoptic gospels, and the first book of the New Testament. It tells of the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth...
in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
and is part of the Sermon on the Mount
Sermon on the Mount
The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of sayings and teachings of Jesus, which emphasizes his moral teaching found in the Gospel of Matthew...
. Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
has just warned that if you do not reconcile with your enemies a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
is likely to throw you in jail. In this verse Jesus mentions that your debts must be paid completely before one can leave.
In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:
- Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt
- by no means come out thence, till
- thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
The World English Bible
World English Bible
The World English Bible is a public domain translation of the Bible that is currently in draft form. Work on the World English Bible began in 1997 and was known as the American Standard Version 1997...
translates the passage as:
- Most certainly I tell you, you shall
- by no means get out of there, until
- you have paid the last penny.
For a collection of other versions see BibRef Matthew 5:26
This verse opens with a similar phrase to that of Matthew 5:22
Matthew 5:22
Matthew 5:22 is the twenty-second verse of the fifth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament and is part of the Sermon on the Mount...
, often translated as "amen
Amen
The word amen is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Its use in Judaism dates back to its earliest texts. It has been generally adopted in Christian worship as a concluding word for prayers and hymns. In Islam, it is the standard ending to Dua and the...
I say to you." This is a popular phrase in Matthew, that Schweizer notes usually introduces something eschatological. This verse is normally taken as a metaphor for how God most be pleased. France notes that it is clear that for God has no half-measures, that even for a slight debt punishment will still be full.
Nolland notes that there is no tradition of imprisonment until a fine is paid in the Jewish legal tradition. The allusions in the verse are to the Greco-Roman system of justice, which did have such punishments, and was in place at the time in Roman occupied Palestine. The coin mentioned is also Roman. The word translated as farthing in the KJV and penny
Penny
A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...
in the WEB in Greek is a quadrans
Quadrans
The quadrans was a low-value Roman bronze coin worth one quarter of an as. The quadrans was issued from the beginning of cast bronze coins during the Roman Republic with three pellets representing three unciae as a mark of value...
, as implied by the translations this was a coin of low value. In the Roman currency
Roman currency
The Roman currency during most of the Roman Republic and the western half of the Roman Empire consisted of coins including the aureus , the denarius , the sestertius , the dupondius , and the as...
system of the time the Quadrans was the lowest valued coin. The very similar verse at Luke 12:59 mentions a mite, a Jewish coin worth even less than a quadrans.
This is one of a small group of verses that have been advanced as Biblical references to purgatory
Purgatory
Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which, it is believed, the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven...
, and one that was attacked by the early Protestant reformers. Schweizer agrees and states that the waiting reference is simply a link to the analogy begun in the earlier verse. Schweizer also notes that this verse jars somewhat with the previous part of the parable
Parable
A parable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, which illustrates one or more instructive principles, or lessons, or a normative principle. It differs from a fable in that fables use animals, plants, inanimate objects, and forces of nature as characters, while parables generally feature human...
as debt
Debt
A debt is an obligation owed by one party to a second party, the creditor; usually this refers to assets granted by the creditor to the debtor, but the term can also be used metaphorically to cover moral obligations and other interactions not based on economic value.A debt is created when a...
or fine
Fine
A fine is money paid usually to superior authority, usually governmental authority, as punishment for a crime or other offence. The amount of a fine can be determined case by case, but it is often announced in advance....
s have not been mentioned. To Schweizer this implies that Jesus is being metaphorical rather than discussing actual legal problems.