Parallel Verses
Twentieth Century New Testament
Indeed I tell you that, unless your religion is above that of the Teachers of the Law, and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
New American Standard Bible
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.
Holman Bible
International Standard Version
because I tell you, unless your righteousness greatly exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom from heaven!"
A Conservative Version
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness abounds more than of the scholars and Pharisees, ye will, no, not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
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.
Amplified
An Understandable Version
For I say to you people, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven unless what you do that is right excels what the experts in the law of Moses and the Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion] do that is right.
Anderson New Testament
For I say to you, That, unless your righteousness excel that of the scribes and Pharisees, you can by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Bible in Basic English
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.
Common New Testament
For I tell you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.
Daniel Mace New Testament
for I declare to you, that except your righteousness shall exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the heavenly kingdom.
Darby Translation
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.
Godbey New Testament
For I say unto you, that if your righteousness may not abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you can not enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
Goodspeed New Testament
For I tell you that unless your uprightness is far superior to that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never even enter the Kingdom of Heaven!
John Wesley New Testament
For I say to you, That unless your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Julia Smith Translation
For I say to you, That except your justice abound more than the scribes and Pharisees, ye should not come into the kingdom of the heavens.
King James 2000
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Lexham Expanded Bible
For I say to you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses [that] of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Modern King James verseion
For I say to you that unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale
For I say unto you, Except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Moffatt New Testament
For I tell you, unless your goodness excels that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the Realm of heaven.
Montgomery New Testament
"For I assure you that unless your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not find entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
NET Bible
For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
New Heart 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.
Noyes New Testament
For I say to you, Unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Sawyer New Testament
For I tell you, that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.
The Emphasized Bible
For I say unto you, that, unless your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, in nowise, may ye enter into the kingdom of the heavens.
Thomas Haweis New Testament
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness abounds more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Webster
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.
Weymouth New Testament
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.
Williams New Testament
For I tell you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven at all.
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.
Worrell New Testament
For I say to you that, unless your righteousness shall exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Worsley New Testament
For I tell you, that unless your righteousness exceed that of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Youngs 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.
Themes
Divine Requirements » Spiritual necessities emphasized by Christ » Inward righteousness
Pharisees » Christ » Declared the imaginary righteousness of, to be insufficient for salvation
Scribe (scribes) » Hypocrisy of, reproved by jesus
Spiritual » Spiritual necessities emphasized by Christ » Inward righteousness
Interlinear
Perisseuo
me
References
Word Count of 37 Translations in Matthew 5:20
Images Matthew 5:20
Prayers for Matthew 5:20
Verse Info
Context Readings
The Sermon On The Mount: The Law And The Prophets Fulfilled
19 Whoever, therefore, breaks one of these commandments, even the least of them, and teaches others to do so, will be the least- esteemed in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever keeps them, and teaches others to do so, will be esteemed great in the Kingdom of Heaven. 20 Indeed I tell you that, unless your religion is above that of the Teachers of the Law, and Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 21 You have heard that to our ancestors it was said--'Thou shalt not commit murder,' and 'Whoever commits murder shall be liable to answer for it to the Court.'
Phrases
Cross References
Hebrews 12:14
Try earnestly to live at peace with every one, and to attain to that purity without which no one will see the Lord.
Romans 10:2-3
I can testify that they are zealous for the honor of God; but they are not guided by true insight,
Philippians 3:9
Any righteousness that I have being, not the righteousness that results from Law, but the righteousness which comes through faith in Christ--the righteousness which is derived from God and is founded on faith.
Matthew 3:10
Already the axe is lying at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that fails to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 7:21
Not every one who says to me 'Master! Master!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven.
Matthew 18:5
And any one who, for the sake of my Name, welcomes even one little child like this, is welcoming me.
Matthew 23:2-5
"The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees now occupy the chair of Moses.
Matthew 23:23-28
Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and caraway seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law--justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first.
Mark 10:15
I tell you, unless a man receives the Kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all."
Mark 10:25
It is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
Luke 11:39-40
But the Master said to him: "You Pharisees do, it is true, clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside you yourselves are filled with greed and wickedness.
Luke 11:44
Alas for you! You are like unsuspected graves, over which men walk unawares."
Luke 12:1
Meanwhile the people had gathered in thousands, so that they trod upon one another, when Jesus, addressing himself to his disciples, began by saying to them: "Be on your guard against the leaven--that is, the hypocrisy--of the Pharisees.
Luke 16:14-15
All this was said within hearing of the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, and they began to sneer at Jesus.
Luke 18:10-14
"Two men went up into the Temple Courts to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax-gatherer.
Luke 18:17
I tell you, unless a man receives the Kingdom of God like a child, he will not enter it at all."
Luke 18:24-25
Seeing this, Jesus said to his disciples: "How hard it is for men of wealth to enter the Kingdom of God!
Luke 20:46-47
"Be on your guard against the Teachers of the Law, who delight to walk about in long robes, and like to be greeted in the streets with respect, and to have the best seats in the Synagogues, and places of honor at dinner.
John 3:3-5
"In truth I tell you," exclaimed Jesus, "unless a man is reborn, he cannot see the Kingdom of God."
Romans 9:30-32
What are we to say, then? Why, that Gentiles, who were not in search of righteousness, secured it-a righteousness which was the result of faith;
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if any one is in union with Christ, he is a new being! His old life has passed away; a new life has begun!
Revelation 21:27
'Never shall any unhallowed thing enter it,' nor he whose life is shameful and false, but only 'those whose names have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life.'