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.
For I say vnto you, That except your righteousnesse shall exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees, yee shall in no case enter into the kingdome of heauen.
Narration uses the Pure Cambridge Edition.
PASSAGE SELECTION
Build from either side
Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.
SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE
Cross References
5 Essential passages are open for comparison.
From verse 20
- Romans 10:2–3Rank 1 from verse 20
2For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
2For I beare them record, that they haue a zeale of God, but not according to knowledge.
3For they being ignorant of Gods righteousnesse, and going about to establish their owne righteousnesse, haue not submitted themselues vnto the righteousnesse of God.
- Philippians 3:9Rank 2 from verse 20
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:
9And be found in him, not hauing mine owne righteousnesse, which is of the Law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousnesse which is of God by faith:
- Romans 9:30–32Rank 3 from verse 20
30What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.
31But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
32Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;
30What shall wee say then? That the Gentiles which followed not after righteousnesse, haue attained to righteousnesse, euen the righteousnesse which is of faith:
31But Israel which followed after the Law of righteousnesse, hath not attained to the Law of righteousnes.
32Wherefore? because they sought it, not by faith, but as it were by the works of the Law: for they stumbled at that stumbling stone,
- Luke 16:14–15Rank 4 from verse 20
14And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
14And the Pharisees also who were couetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
15And he said vnto them, Ye are they which iustifie your selues before men, but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed amongst men, is abomination in the sight of God.
- Matthew 23:2–5Rank 5 from verse 20
2Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:
3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
2Saying, The Scribes and the Pharises sit in Moses seate:
3All therefore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue, that obserue and doe, but doe not ye after their workes: for they say, and doe not.
4*For they binde heauie burdens, and grieuous to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders, but they themselues will not mooue them with one of their fingers.
5But all their workes they doe, for to be seene of men: *they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
- John 3:3–5Rank 6 from verse 20
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
3Iesus answered, and said vnto him, Uerily, verily I say vnto thee, except a man be borne ‖againe, he cannot see the kingdome of God.
4Nicodemus saith vnto him, How can a man be borne when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mothers wombe, and be borne?
5Iesus answered, Uerily, verily I say vnto thee, except a man be borne of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdome of God.
- Matthew 23:23–28Rank 7 from verse 20
23Woe 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.
24Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.
28Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
23Woe vnto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; *for yee pay tithe of mint, and annise, and cummine, and haue omitted the weightier matters of the Law, iudgement, mercie and faith: these ought ye to haue done, and not to leaue the other vndone.
24 Ye blind guides, which straine at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25Woe vnto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites; *for yee make cleane the outside of the cup, and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excesse.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may bee cleane also.
27Woe vnto you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, for yee are like vnto whited sepulchres, which indeed appeare beautifull outward, but are within full of dead mens bones, and of all vncleannesse.
28Euen so, yee also outwardly appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17Rank 8 from verse 20
- Hebrews 12:14Rank 9 from verse 20
- Matthew 7:21Rank 10 from verse 20
- Luke 11:39–40Rank 11 from verse 20
39And 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.
40Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
39*And the Lord said vnto him, Now doe ye Pharises make cleane the outside of the cup and the platter: but your inward part is full of rauening and wickednesse.
40Yee fooles, did not he that made that which is without, make that which is within also?
- Luke 20:46–47Rank 12 from verse 20
46Beware 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;
47Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
46*Beware of the Scribes, which desire to walke in long robes, and loue greetings in the markets, and the highest seates in the Synagogues, and the chiefe roumes at feasts:
47Which deuoure widowes houses and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receiue greater damnation.
- Revelation 21:27Rank 13 from verse 20
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.
27And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoeuer worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lambes booke of life.
- Mark 10:15Rank 14 from verse 20
- Mark 10:25Rank 15 from verse 20
- Matthew 18:5Rank 16 from verse 20
- Matthew 3:10Rank 17 from verse 20
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.
10And now also the axe is layd vnto the root of the trees: *Therefore euery tree which bringeth not foorth good fruite, is hewen downe, and cast into the fire.
- Luke 11:44Rank 18 from verse 20
1IN the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
1¶ In *the meane time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one vpon another, he began to say vnto his disciples first of all, Beware yee of the leauen of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisie.
- Luke 18:10–14Rank 20 from verse 20
10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
10Two men went vp into the Temple to pray, the one a Pharisee, and the other a Publicane.
11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himselfe, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, vniust, adulterers, or euen as this Publicane.
12I fast twise in the weeke, I giue tithes of all that I possesse.
13And the Publicane standing afarre off, would not lift vp so much as his eyes vnto heauen: but smote vpon his breast, saying, God me mercifull to mee a sinner.
14I tell you, this man went downe to his house iustified rather then the other: *For euery one that exalteth himselfe, shall be abased: and hee that humbleth himselfe, shall be exalted.
- Luke 18:17Rank 21 from verse 20
- Luke 18:24–25Rank 22 from verse 20
24And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
25For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
24And when Iesus saw that hee was very sorrowfull, he said, How hardly shal they that haue riches, enter into the kingdome of God?
25For it is easier for a camel to goe thorow a needles eye, then for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE
Definitions
Open a word for its full definition and concordance.
DEFINED WORDS
Matthew 5:20
1. In behalf of or in the place of. 2. With respect to, concerning, or toward. 3. Because of or on account of. 4. During or throughout. 5. In order to obtain or reach. 6. As a conjunction, because or seeing that.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: To speak, declare, tell, or express. Sense 2: What is said.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
Sense 1: Unless; with the exclusion of; apart from. Sense 2: To exclude or leave out. Sense 3: To object or take exception.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The possessive form of ye or you, ordinarily plural, marking what belongs to, concerns, proceeds from, or stands in relation to the persons addressed.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
COMBINED MEANING
righteousness
The state or character of being righteous; justice, uprightness, or conformity to what is right.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
To go beyond a limit or surpass something else.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Skeat 1893
Writers or clerks; among the Jews, persons learned in and teaching the law.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Members of a Jewish sect known for strict observance of its religious traditions.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: A condition, circumstance, matter, or stated set of facts. Sense 2: In the expression in any case, certainly or without exception.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
To go or come in; to penetrate; to become an ingredient or constituent part; to enter the mind.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
The rule, royal authority, government, realm, territory, subjects, or dominion of a king.
Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references
Sense 1: The firmament or expanse above the earth, including the sky and the region of the sun, moon, stars, clouds, rain, and flying creatures. Sense 2: The realm above spoken of as God's throne and dwelling place, and as the place of angels, heavenly beings, and the righteous. Sense 3: By metonymy, God, heavenly authority or source, or those who dwell there.
Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828
FOLLOW THE THEME
Related Concepts
Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.
heaven and eternal life
READ BEFORE AND AFTER
Surrounding Verses
Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.
19Whosoever 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.
19*Whosoeuer therfore shall breake one of these least commaundements, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdome of heauen: but whosoeuer shall doe, and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdome of heauen.
20For 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.
20For I say vnto you, That except your righteousnesse shall exceede the righteousnesse of the Scribes and Pharisees, yee shall in no case enter into the kingdome of heauen.
Selected passage21¶ 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:
21¶ Yee haue heard, that it was saide ‖by them of old time, *Thou shalt not kill: and, Whosoeuer shall kill, shalbe in danger of the iudgement.