Matthew 5:20

Unless one's righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, one cannot enter the kingdom. It demands a righteousness deeper than mere external observance.

Cross-references · 22

• Rom 10:2–3For I testify about them that they are zealous for God, but not on the basis of knowledge.
• Phil 3:9and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.
• Rom 9:30–32What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith;
• Luke 16:14–15The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.
• Matt 23:2–5“The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.
• John 3:3–5Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
• Matt 23:23–28Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
• Heb 12:14Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.
• 2 Cor 5:17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come!
• Matt 7:21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
• Rev 21:27But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who practices an abomination or a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
• Luke 11:39–40“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.
• Luke 20:46–47“Beware of the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, and they love the greetings in the marketplaces, the chief seats in the synagogues, and the places of honor at banquets.
• Matt 3:10The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
• Mark 10:15Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
• Mark 10:25It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
• Matt 18:5And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
• Luke 18:17Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
• Luke 11:44Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
• Luke 18:24–25Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
• Luke 12:1In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
• Luke 18:10–14“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

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