Parallel Verses
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.
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
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.
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.
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 Therefore, whoever disregards one of these least [significant] requirements [of the law of Moses] and teaches others to [disregard them], he will be considered the least [significant person] in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys them and teaches [others to obey] them, will be considered important in the kingdom of heaven. 20 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. 21 "You have heard what was said to the people in time's past [Exodus 20:13], 'You must not murder,' and whoever does will be subject to judgment.
Phrases
Cross References
Hebrews 12:14
Actively seek to live in peace with all people. And be dedicated to God, because no one will see God without this.
Romans 10:2-3
For I can testify that they have an enthusiasm for God, but it is without [true] knowledge.
Philippians 3:9
and to be found in [fellowship with] Him, not having a righteousness of my own, acquired by observing the law of Moses, but one acquired through believing in Christ. This righteousness, which comes from God, is based on faith.
Matthew 3:10
and 12].
Matthew 7:21
"Not every person who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven; but [only] that person who does what my Father in heaven requires.
Matthew 18:5
And the person who welcomes one little child like this, in my name [i.e., because he belongs to me], welcomes me [also].
Matthew 23:2-5
saying, "The experts in the law of Moses and the Pharisees teach by the authority of Moses.
Matthew 23:23-28
"It is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! For you give a tenth of your mint, dill and cumin [i.e., small garden herbs used for seasoning or fragrance], and [yet] neglect the heavier responsibilities required by the law, [such as] justice, mercy and faith. You should have done these ["lighter"] things and not neglected to do the other ["heavier"] things [as well].
Mark 10:15
Truly I tell you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God as a little child does, that person will by no means enter it."
Mark 10:25
It is [actually] easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 11:39-40
And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees [meticulously] clean the outside of the cup and the dish [i.e., this was an allusion to their lives], but you are filled with greed for wealth and [other] evils on the inside.
Luke 11:44
"It is too bad for you! For you people are like obscure grave sites that people walk over without knowing it."
Luke 12:1
About this time, while a crowd of many thousands had assembled, [so large that] people were trampling on one another, Jesus first began telling His disciples, "Watch out for the leavening [effect] of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 16:14-15
Then the Pharisees, who loved money, heard these things and sneered at Jesus.
Luke 18:10-14
"Two men went up to the Temple [in Jerusalem] to pray. One of them was a Pharisee and the other one was a tax collector.
Luke 18:17
Truly I tell you, whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God the way a little child does, that person will by no means enter it."
Luke 18:24-25
Now Jesus looked at him and said, "How difficult [it is] for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!
Luke 20:46-47
"Look out for the experts in the law of Moses, who like to walk [around] in long [flowing] robes and love the special greetings they receive at the open shopping markets, and the principal seats in the synagogues, and the head places at dinner tables.
John 3:3-5
Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot see the kingdom of God [i.e., enter it. See verse 5], unless he is born from above [Note: The words "from above" are also used in verse 31, but in this place they could also mean "again," or "anew" and refer to the source of a person's second birth].
Romans 9:30-32
What shall we say then? [Simply this]: That the Gentiles, who did not attempt to become right with God [by how they lived] were made right with God, and this was the result of their faith [in Christ].
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if any person is in [fellowship with] Christ, he is a new person. His old ways have passed away; now his ways have become new.
Revelation 21:27
And there will never be anything [morally] unclean allowed to enter it, nor any person who practices disgusting behavior [i.e., probably such sins as sexual perversion], or [any person] who is a liar. But the only ones [allowed there] are those [whose names are] recorded in the Lamb's book of life.