Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 5:26

"Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou have paid the last farthing." — Matthew 5:26 (ASV)

Jesus again urges haste to settle matters with an offended adversary while still “with him on the way” to court. In the ancient world debtors were jailed till the debts were paid. Jesus insists on immediate action: malicious anger is so evil —and God’s judgment so certain (v.22)—that we must do all in our power to end it (cf. Ephesians 4:26–27).