1. Matthew 5:22 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does Jesus mean when he says that someone is in danger of hellfire?

Matthew 5:22 (ESV)

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.

The Greek word translated as fire of hell is actually Gehenna. It is a reference to the Hinnon Valley, a place where the Canaanites offered human sacrifices to the pagan god Molech (2 Kings 23:10). In Jesus’ day it was a place where garbage was burned day and night. 1