The "You have heard it said ..." here is not referring to the commandment "you shall not murder", but to the "anyone who murders shall be subject to judgement". This is made clear by the next verse, "but I tell you ... will be subject to judgement".
What is going on here? Well, with the "anyone who murders" bit most of us can then feel self-righteous, for most of us have not murdered anyone. So under the rabbinical teaching would not be subject to judgement. However, all of us have been angry with people, most or all of us have either said or thought harsh things against someone else. Jesus is telling us that it is the attitude of our heart that is crucial. The act of murder is the outworking of hatred within, and society must have laws against the outworking of wrong attitudes. Now it is futile and foolish for a society to try and have thought crimes, which our current idiotic society is intent on doing with various "hate crimes". But God can and does judge the attitudes of our heart.
Jesus then gives two illustrations. Remember He gave this teaching in Galilee, a few days journey from Jerusalem. So to leave a gift (probably a sheep or such like) at the altar, and to go back home to settle something would be impractical. But Jesus us making the point that as far as God is concerned it is more important that we have our attitude to others sorted out, rather than any religious rituals.
Then He tells us to settle matters quickly out of court. This is certainly good practical advice! However, that is not the main point that Jesus is making. Our case always seems right, we always convince ourself that we are in the right. Yet when someone else hears the whole story, and hears both sides, they may take a different view.
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