22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherwill be liable to judgment; whoever insultshis brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hellof fire.
The reference to brother centres on life in the kingdom community, the church.1 Though church relations are the primary referent, Jesus’ words are no doubt intended to be applied more widely (see Matthew 5:25–26).2
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherwill be liable to judgment; whoever insultshis brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hellof fire.