Scripture · New Testament
Matthew 5:20
Matthew 5:20 is verse 20 of Matthew chapter 5, shown here in the Berean Standard Bible.
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.
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.
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.
Read in context
Matthew 5:18–22 · Berean Standard Bible
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.
20 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.
Read all of Matthew 5Greek words
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Cross-references
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge lists these related verses. Scripture text comes from the Berean Standard Bible.
Matthew 23:2“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
Matthew 23:3So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.
Matthew 23:4They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
Matthew 23:5All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.
Matthew 23:23Woe 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.
Matthew 23:24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Matthew 23:25Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
Matthew 23:26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
Matthew 23:27Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside, but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity.
Matthew 23:28In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
Luke 11:39“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
Luke 11:40You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?
Luke 11:44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
Luke 12:1In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 16:14The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.
Luke 16:15So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.
Luke 18:10“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Luke 18:11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
Luke 18:12I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
Luke 18:13But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
Luke 18:14I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Luke 20:46“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
Luke 20:47They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”
Romans 9:30What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
Romans 9:31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.
Romans 9:32Why not? Because their pursuit was not by faith, but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone,
Romans 10:2For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
Romans 10:3Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
2 Corinthians 5:17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
Philippians 3:9and 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.
Matthew 3:10The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 7:21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
Matthew 18:5And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
Mark 10:15Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Mark 10:25It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Luke 18:17Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
Luke 18:24Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
Luke 18:25Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
John 3:4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”
John 3:5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
Hebrews 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
Revelation 21:27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.