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Key Verse Spotlight

Matthew 5:20 - Meaning and Application

Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today

Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition

" 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. "

Matthew 5:20

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18 For most certainly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one smallest letter or one tiny pen stroke shall in any way pass away from the law, until all things are accomplished.

19 Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.

20 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.

21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

22 But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause will be in danger of the judgment. Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehenna.

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Related Verses

Matthew 23:14

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"“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men; for you don’t enter in yourselves, neither do you allow those who are entering in to enter."

Speaks to the same theme

Matthew 18:3

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"and said, “Most certainly I tell you, unless you turn and become as little children, you will in no way enter into the Kingdom of Heaven."

Speaks to the same theme

Luke 11:42

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"But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb, but you bypass justice and God’s love. You ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone."

Speaks to the same theme

Luke 11:39

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"The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness."

Speaks to the same theme

Sirach 7:6

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"Don’t seek to be a judge, lest you not be able to take away iniquities, lest perhaps you fear the person of a mighty man, and lay a stumbling block in the way of your uprightness."

Speaks to the same theme

Tobit 14:9

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"But you must keep the law and the ordinances, and show yourself merciful and righteous, that it may be well with you."

Speaks to the same theme

Related verses from Bible Guided Semantic Search

From This Chapter

Matthew 5:1

"Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him."

Matthew 5:2

"He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,"

Matthew 5:3

"“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven."

Matthew 5:4

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."

Matthew 5:5

"Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth."

Matthew 5:6

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

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