Matthew 5:20 - Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

Matthew 5:20

18 For assuredly, I say to you, ^atill heaven and earth pass away, one¹ jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

19 ^aWhoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds ^athe righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Murder Begins in the Heart

21 “You have heard that it was said to those¹ of old, ^a‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’

22 But I say to you that ^awhoever is angry with his brother¹ without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ^b‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says,³ ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of⁴ hell fire.

23 Therefore ^aif you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

24 ^aleave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

25 ^aAgree with your adversary quickly, ^bwhile you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

Adultery in the Heart

27 “You have heard that it was said¹ to those of old, ^a‘You shall not commit adultery.’

28 But I say to you that whoever ^alooks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

29 ^aIf your right eye causes you to¹ sin, ^bpluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

30 And if your right hand causes you to¹ sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

Marriage Is Sacred and Binding

31 “Furthermore it has been said, ^a‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’

32 But I say to you that ^awhoever divorces his wife for any reason except¹ sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

Jesus Forbids Oaths

33 “Again you have heard that ^ait was said to those of old, ^b‘You shall not swear falsely, but ^cshall perform your oaths to the Lord.’

34 But I say to you, ^ado not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is ^bGod’s throne;

35 nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of ^athe great King.

36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black.

37 ^aBut let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

Go the Second Mile

38 “You have heard that it was said, ^a‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 ^aBut I tell you not to resist an evil person. ^bBut whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

41 And whoever ^acompels you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to him who asks you, and ^afrom him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

Love Your Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ^a‘You shall love your neighbor ^band hate your enemy.’

44 But I say to you, ^alove your enemies, bless those who curse you, ^bdo good to those who hate you, and pray ^cfor those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for ^aHe makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

46 ^aFor if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the² tax collectors do so?

48 ^aTherefore you shall be perfect, just ^bas your Father in heaven is perfect.

Commentaries:

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown

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Matthew 5:20

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees—The superiority to the Pharisaic righteousness here required is plainly in kind, not degree; for all Scripture teaches that entrance into God's kingdom, whether in its present or future stage, depends, not on the degree of our excellence in anything, but solely on our having the character itself which God demands. Our righteousness, then—if it is to contrast with the outward and formal righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees—must be inward, vital, spiritual. Some, indeed, of the scribes and Pharisees themselves might have the very righteousness here demanded; but our Lord is speaking, not of persons, but of the system they represented and taught.

ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven—If this refer, as in Matthew 5:19, rather to the earthly stage of this kingdom, the meaning is that without a righteousness exceeding that of the Pharisees, we cannot be members of it at all, save in name. This was no new doctrine (Romans 2:28-29; Romans 9:6; Philippians 3:3). But our Lord's teaching here stretches beyond the present scene, to that everlasting stage of the kingdom, where without "purity of heart" none "shall see God."

The Spirituality of the True Righteousness in Contrast with That of the Scribes and Pharisees, Illustrated from the Sixth Commandment. (Matthew 5:21-26).

Other Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown entries containing Matthew 5:20:

Matthew 5:19
Matthew 6:1

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Matthew 5:21 >>

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