The surrounding scripture appears to be preparing us for the idea of spirit prison mentioned in verse 25 & 26:
Matthew 5
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
21 Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
23 Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
24 Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Yes no one goes straight to Heaven, Jesus did not go straight to Heaven, No ! so such as that's a lie, the heaven that such are talking about is a mans works heaven that is being touted, they claim rubbish like it's a beautiful place, the streets are gold etc etc are all lies.
Jesus said he was preparing a place for they who were his only.
The Saints are in Heaven and all who go are Saints, as the blighted can never enter such a position and that's a fact.
They who peddle against the Purgatory are being truly to harsh or to soft and not to mention simplistic, so they in mans ways are making out the deal themselves as to people, as they always do peddle such things in a worldly way. it's not that simple as they love to make out, as they are set themselves up as the arbitrator of man.
The are all about making deals with men I have found, God does not do deals at all ever, Satan does deals, remember when the Devil was talking to Jesus ? do you understand what was going on ? well the Devil was trying to make a deal with Jesus in fact and what did Jesus say in the end to the Devil ? Be Gone !
So when any such tempters come trying to make out such deals with you, it's the work of Satan in fact.
There is no deals at all, you abide in Jesus or you do not, that's free will ! one must not abide out of fear, but out of love for Jesus Christ, if you think it's a chore to abide in him you are lost.
We must pay for all our Sins in Purgatory to the very last cent the Bible says, because nothing defiled can enter into Heaven in fact.
Look at the list that one must be to enter the Kingdom of God 1 Cor 6:9-18 yes there is a list in fact of who can not enter, they can not enter because such as mentioned are not worthy of such. I did not make it up the Bible states this fact. I did not make up Purgatory the Bible points it out in fact.
Satanist go to Hell, they who do not deserve Hell have a chance in Purgatory in fact. so if Joh Blow truly rejects Jesus as the Christ he will most likely go to Hell. But as to who goes to Hell or Heaven no one can boast such. in fact Bible points this out in fact but what do the tempters do they make out that you can claim that you are going to Heaven and boast about such to other Man as if they were an authority but are they talking to God ? No they are not at all in fact, they have by past such, because they are tempters and full of lies. Oh they do not like to pay for there Sins, oh no not Purgatory ! they rant and rave like a mad man as soon as one mentions such, I ask myself why ? well they are not of God. they are not taking the Bible serious, they twist and turn like a worm and get enraged as a demon possessed and will not calm down to see reason.