He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

MATTHEW 19:18KJV
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Matthew 19:18 (KJV)

What does Matthew 19:18 mean?

Matthew 19:18 records Jesus listing several commandments in response to a man asking which rules he should follow to have eternal life. Jesus specifically names commandments about not murdering, not committing adultery, not stealing, and not giving false testimony.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a man often called the "rich young ruler," who wants to know what good thing he must do to gain eternal life. Jesus responds by pointing to well-known commandments from the Law of Moses, focusing on those that deal with how people treat each other. This sets the stage for a deeper conversation about what it truly means to follow God.

The Greek behind Matthew 19:18

  • "μὴ φονεύσῃς" (mē phoneusēs, "do no murder"): The Greek word for murder here is specific, emphasizing the act of unlawfully taking a life, not just any kind of killing.
  • "μὴ μοιχεύσῃς" (mē moicheusēs, "do not commit adultery"): This word refers directly to breaking the marriage bond, highlighting faithfulness in relationships.
  • "μὴ κλέψῃς" (mē klepsēs, "do not steal"): The Greek term covers taking what does not belong to you, reinforcing respect for others' property.
  • "μὴ ψευδομαρτυρήσῃς" (mē pseudomarturēsēs, "do not bear false witness"): This phrase means giving dishonest testimony, especially in legal settings, underlining the importance of truthfulness.

Why Matthew 19:18 matters

  • This verse shows that Jesus points to the commandments about how we treat other people, not just religious rituals, as central to living rightly.
  • By listing these specific commands, Jesus emphasizes the ongoing importance of the moral law in relationships with others.
  • The verse connects to the larger conversation, where Jesus will challenge the man to go beyond rule-keeping to a deeper commitment, preparing the reader for what comes next.

Where else these words appear

“shalt” Greek G5576 · used in 6 verses

  • Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
  • Mark 14:56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
  • Luke 18:20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

“do” Greek G5407 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 5:21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
  • Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
  • James 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

“shalt” Greek G3431 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
  • Luke 16:18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.
  • Romans 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?

“shalt” Greek G2813 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
  • Matthew 28:13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
  • John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.