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.”

King James Version (KJV)

Other Translations of Matthew 5:20

“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.”
King James Version (1611) - View original scan of Matthew chapter 5

“"For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses {that} of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
New American Standard Version (1995)

“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.”
American Standard Version (1901)

“For I say to you, If your righteousness is not greater than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never go into the kingdom of heaven.”
Basic English Bible

“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.”
Darby Bible

“For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. ”
Douay Rheims Bible

“For I say to 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. ”
Webster's Bible

“For I assure you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses that of the Scribes and the Pharisees, you will certainly not find entrance into the Kingdom of the Heavens.”
Weymouth 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.”
World English Bible

“And Y seie to you, that but your riytfulnesse be more plenteuouse than of scribis and of Farisees, ye schulen not entre into the kyngdom of heuenes.”
Wycliffe Bible

“`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.”
Youngs Literal Bible

Bill's comment on 2014-12-23 13:21:55:

For many years of my life, whenever I read the phrases kingdom of God or kingdom of heaven in the Scriptures my mind automatically assumed the Bible was speaking of eternal life heaven. Entering into the kingdom was the idea of getting saved. Thus I assumed verses such as the one below were references to salvation and possessing eternal life. Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven Matthew 5 20 . I now realize how terribly wrong I was in my former interpretation, and I am ashamed to think I put words in Jesus mouth. I have since come to understand that Jesus is not talking to those who are lost about salvation from eternal condemnation. He is talking to those who are already saved about sanctification and the need to prepare for the kingdom. Incidentally, Matthew 5 48 is the goal, or standard, by which we will be judged at the Bema. That means the kingdom of heaven in this context is not eternal life heaven, but rather the coming millennial kingdom. James Hollandsworth

Shay's comment on 2014-07-17 11:31:34:

We need faith to overcome mountainlike obstacles that interfere with our spiritual progress and to cope with difficulties. We should not be negligent about building and strengthening our faith in Jehovah God and his promises.

Susan Dalton's comment on 2013-02-24 13:06:21:

For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20). Severe thought. If the people equaled the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees (those perceiving themselves as the righteous) they would not enter the kingdom of heaven. Where does that imply the Scribes and Pharisees would end up? Hell and outer darkness; where there will be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

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