SEV Biblia, Chapter 5:26
De cierto te digo, que no saldrs de allí, hasta que pagues el ltimo cuadrante.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:26
Verse 26. The uttermost farthing.] kodranthn . The rabbins have this Greek word corrupted into ofnwydrq kordiontes, and qyrfnwq , kontrik, and say, that two twfwrp prutoth make a kontarik, which is exactly the same with those words in Mark xii. 42, lepta duo, o esti kodranthv, two mites, which are one farthing. Hence it appears that the lepton lepton was the same as the prutah. The weight of the prutah was half a barley-corn, and it was the smallest coin among the Jews, as the kodrantes, or farthing, was the smallest coin among the Romans. If the matter issue in law, strict justice will be done, and your creditor be allowed the fullness of his just claim; but if; while you are on the way, going to the magistrate, you come to a friendly agreement with him, he will relax in his claims, take a part for the whole, and the composition be, in the end, both to his and your profit. This text has been considered a proper foundation on which to build not only the doctrine of a purgatory, but also that of universal restoration. But the most unwarrantable violence must be used before it can be pressed into the service of either of the above antiscriptural doctrines. At the most, the text can only be considered as a metaphorical representation of the procedure of the great Judge; and let it ever be remembered, that by the general consent of all (except the basely interested) no metaphor is ever to be produced in proof of any doctrine. In the things that concern our eternal salvation, we need the most pointed and express evidence on which to establish the faith of our souls.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 26. Verily, I say unto thee , etc.] This may be depended upon, you may assure yourself of it, that thou shalt by no means come out thence , from prison, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing , or last farthing; or as the Ethiopic version reads it, till thou hast exactly paid all; which seems to express the inexorableness of the creditor, and the impossibility of the debtors release.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 21-26 - The Jewish teachers had taught, that nothing except actual murder wa forbidden by the sixth commandment. Thus they explained away it spiritual meaning. Christ showed the full meaning of this commandment according to which we must be judged hereafter, and therefore ought to be ruled now. All rash anger is heart murder. By our brother, here, we are to understand any person, though ever so much below us, for we ar all made of one blood. "Raca," is a scornful word, and comes from pride: "Thou fool," is a spiteful word, and comes from hatred Malicious slanders and censures are poison that kills secretly an slowly. Christ told them that how light soever they made of these sins they would certainly be called into judgment for them. We ough carefully to preserve Christian love and peace with all our brethren and if at any time there is a quarrel, we should confess our fault humble ourselves to our brother, making or offering satisfaction for wrong done in word or deed: and we should do this quickly; because till this is done, we are unfit for communion with God in holy ordinances. And when we are preparing for any religious exercises, it is good for us to make that an occasion of serious reflection an self-examination. What is here said is very applicable to our being reconciled to God through Christ. While we are alive, we are in the way to his judgement-seat; after death, it will be too late. When we consider the importance of the case, and the uncertainty of life, ho needful it is to seek peace with God, without delay!
Greek Textus Receptus
αμην 281 HEB λεγω 3004 5719 V-PAI-1S σοι 4671 P-2DS ου 3756 PRT-N μη 3361 PRT-N εξελθης 1831 5632 V-2AAS-2S εκειθεν 1564 ADV εως 2193 CONJ αν 302 PRT αποδως 591 5632 V-2AAS-2S τον 3588 T-ASM εσχατον 2078 A-ASM κοδραντην 2835 N-ASM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
5:26 {The last farthing} (ton escaton kodranten). A Latin word, _quadrans, 1/4 of an _as_ (assarion) or two mites (#Mr 12:42), a vivid picture of inevitable punishment for debt. this is emphasized by the strong double negative ou me with the aorist subjunctive.
