KJV King James Version
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.
VERSE STUDY • KJV
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.
Read it in 5 translations
BSB Berean Standard Bible
For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
WEB World English Bible
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 American Standard Version
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.
YLT Young’s Literal Translation
‘For I say to you, that if your righteousness may not abound above that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye may not enter to the reign of the heavens.
Surrounding context — Matthew 5
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
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 by 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;
Topics connected to this verse
Original-language word links
These Hebrew/Greek tokens are linked by Strong's number. Click one for its lexicon definition and other occurrences.
λέγωG3004 · legōto sayγὰρG1063 · garforὑμῖνG4771 · suyouὅτιG3754 · hotithat/since: thatἐὰνG1437 · eanifμὴG3361 · mēnotπερισσεύσῃG4052 · perisseuōto exceedὑμῶνG4771 · suyouἡG3588 · hothe/this/whoδικαιοσύνηG1343 · dikaiosunērighteousnessπλεῖονG4119 · pleiōn, pleiongreaterτῶνG3588 · hothe/this/whoγραμματέωνG1122 · grammateusscribeκαὶG2532 · kaiandΦαρισαίων,G5330 · PharisaiosPhariseeοὐG3756 · ounoμὴG3361 · mēnotεἰσέλθητεG1525 · eiserchomaito enterεἰςG1519 · eistowardτὴνG3588 · hothe/this/whoβασιλείανG932 · basileiakingdomτῶνG3588 · hothe/this/whoοὐρανῶν.¶G3772 · ouranosheaven
Cross-references
Romans 10:2-3For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.Philippians 3:9And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:Romans 9:30-32What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.Luke 16:14-15And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.Matthew 23:2-5Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:John 3:3-5Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.Matthew 23:23-28Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier [matters] of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.Hebrews 12:14Follow peace with all [men], and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.Matthew 7:21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.Revelation 21:27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.Luke 11:39-40And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.Luke 20:46-47Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;Mark 10:15Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.Matthew 18:5And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.Mark 10:25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.Matthew 3:10And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.Luke 18:17Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.
HISTORICAL INTERPRETATION
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