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 {G1063} I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, That {G3754} except {G3362} your {G5216} righteousness {G1343} shall exceed {G4052}{G4119} the righteousness of the scribes {G1122} and {G2532} Pharisees {G5330}, ye shall in no case {G3364} enter {G1525} into {G1519} the kingdom {G932} of heaven {G3772}.

For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of the Torah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

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.

Commentary

In Matthew 5:20, Jesus delivers a challenging statement during His foundational Sermon on the Mount, directly addressing the nature of true righteousness necessary for entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Context

This verse follows Jesus's assertion that He did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). He then raises the bar significantly, indicating that mere external adherence to the Mosaic Law, as practiced by the religious leaders of His day, would not suffice. His audience, primarily Jewish, would have highly esteemed the scribes and Pharisees as paragons of piety and legal observance.

Key Themes

  • True Righteousness: Jesus emphasizes that genuine righteousness must go beyond outward performance. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, while meticulous in external observances, often lacked an internal transformation of the heart and motive. Jesus calls for a righteousness that flows from a changed inner person, reflecting God's character more fully.
  • The Kingdom of Heaven: Entry into God's reign and blessing is conditional not on ritualistic purity or legalistic adherence, but on a deeper, more profound spiritual state. This "kingdom" is both a present spiritual reality and a future hope, requiring genuine spiritual change.
  • Warning Against Hypocrisy: Implicitly, Jesus warns against a superficial faith that prioritizes human approval or external show over sincere devotion to God. Their righteousness was often characterized by pride and a lack of true love for God and neighbor, which Jesus frequently exposed (see Matthew 23).

Linguistic Insights

The key word here is "exceed" (Greek: perisseuo - περισσεύω). It means to abound, to be more than enough, to excel, or to overflow. It does not imply doing *more* religious acts than the Pharisees, but rather possessing a *superior quality* or *deeper kind* of righteousness. This righteousness (Greek: dikaiosyne - δικαιοσύνη) is not self-generated by human effort alone but is a gift from God that transforms the heart, leading to actions motivated by love and truth, rather than obligation or appearance.

Practical Application

For believers today, Matthew 5:20 remains a powerful call to spiritual introspection. It challenges us to examine our motives and ensure our faith is not merely an outward display or adherence to rules, but a genuine, heart-level commitment to God and His ways. True Christian living is characterized by an internal transformation that produces fruit consistent with God's character, affecting all areas of life, from our thoughts to our actions. It reminds us that entry into the spiritual blessings and ultimate consummation of God's kingdom requires a righteousness that stems from a right relationship with Him, enabled by grace and reflected in genuine love and obedience.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 10:2 (23 votes)

    For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.

  • Romans 10:3 (23 votes)

    For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

  • Philippians 3:9 (22 votes)

    ¶ And 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:

  • Romans 9:30 (20 votes)

    ¶ What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.

  • Romans 9:32 (20 votes)

    Wherefore? Because [they sought it] not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

  • Matthew 23:2 (12 votes)

    Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

  • Matthew 23:5 (12 votes)

    But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,