Mat 5:22 | TNotes | STEP | 5:22 judgment ... the court ... hell: The second and third punishments are more severe than would have been typical in Jesus’ day, emphasizing the surpassing righteousness of Jesus and his followers (see 5:20 ). They did not tolerate unreconciled relationships or any devaluation of others. • If you call someone an idiot: The Aramaic term reqa’ (transliterated as raca ) means something like “empty head,” and the clause probably means the same as if you curse someone (literally if you say, ‘You fool’ ; cp. Jas 2:20 ). Devaluation of people is a sin that manifests itself in various ways.

cJas 2:20►

‏ Matthew 5:22

5:22 ^a judgment ... the court ... hell: The second and third punishments are more severe than would have been typical in Jesus’ day, emphasizing the surpassing righteousness of Jesus and his followers (see 5:20 ^b). They did not tolerate unreconciled relationships or any devaluation of others.

• If you call someone an idiot: The Aramaic term reqa’ (transliterated as raca) means something like “empty head,” and the clause probably means the same as if you curse someone (literally if you say, ‘You fool’; cp. Jas 2:20 ^c). Devaluation of people is a sin that manifests itself in various ways.