Matthew 5:20
18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.
19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
21 You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘Do not murder’ and ‘Anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to the fire of hell.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
- KJV
- 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.
- WEB
- For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
- ASV
- For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
- DARBY
- For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness surpass [that] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
- BLB
- For I say to you⁺ that unless your⁺ righteousness should abound more than [that] of the scribes and Pharisees, you⁺ shall certainly not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
- ÅB
- For jeg sier dere: Dersom rettferdigheten deres ikke overgår de skriftlærdes og fariseernes, kommer dere aldri inn i himlenes rike.
- OTB
- For jeg sier dere, hvis ikke deres rettferdighet overgår de skriftlærdes og fariseernes, skal dere slett ikke komme inn i himlenes rike.
- B1930
- For jeg sier eder: Dersom eders rettferdighet ikke overgår de skriftlærdes og fariseernes, kommer I ingenlunde inn i himlenes rike.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Romans 10:2–3
For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
Read in contextPhilippians 3:9
and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
Read in contextRomans 9:30–32
What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
Read in contextLuke 16:14–15
The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.
Read in contextMatthew 23:2–5
“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
Read in contextMatthew 23:23–28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Read in contextJohn 3:3–5
Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
Read in context2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Read in context