Matthew 5:20

Geneva Bible (1560)

For I say vnto you, except your righteousnes exceede the righteousnes of the Scribes and Pharises, ye shall not enter into the kingdome of heauen.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Λέγω γὰρ ὑμῖν, Ὅτι ἐὰν μὴ περισσεύσῃ ἡ δικαιοσύνη ὑμῶν πλεῖον τῶν γραμματέων καὶ Φαρισαίων, οὐ μὴ εἰσέλθητε εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Transliteration

Legō gar to-you, That ean not perisseusē the dikaiosynē of-you pleion of-the grammateōn and Pharisaiōn, not not eiselthēte into the basileian of-the ouranōn.

Grammar Details

• *Legō*: present active indicative, 1st person singular - I say/tell
• *gar*: postpositive conjunction - for/because
• *ean*: conditional conjunction - if
• *perisseusē*: aorist active subjunctive, 3rd person singular - might exceed/abound
• *dikaiosynē*: nominative feminine singular - righteousness
• *pleion*: nominative neuter comparative - more than
• *grammateōn*: genitive masculine plural - of scribes
• *Pharisaiōn*: genitive masculine plural - of Pharisees
• *eiselthēte*: aorist active subjunctive, 2nd person plural - you might enter
• *basileian*: accusative feminine singular - kingdom
• *ouranōn*: genitive masculine plural - of heavens

Word Meanings

• *Legō*: say/tell/speak
• *perisseusē*: exceed/abound/surpass
• *dikaiosynē*: righteousness/justice/uprightness
• *pleion*: more than/greater than
• *grammateōn*: scribes/scholars of the law
• *Pharisaiōn*: Pharisees (Jewish religious group)
• *eiselthēte*: enter/go in
• *basileian*: kingdom/reign/rule
• *ouranōn*: heavens/skies

Referenced Verses

• John 3:3-5 : 3 Iesus answered, & said vnto him, Verely, verely I say vnto thee, except a man be borne againe, he can not see the kingdome of God. 4 Nicodemus sayde vnto him, Howe can a man be borne which is olde? can he enter into his mothers wombe againe, and be borne? 5 Iesus answered, Verely, verely I say vnto thee, except that a man be borne of water and of the Spirite, hee can not enter into the kingdome of God.
• Rom 10:2-3 : 2 For I beare them record, that they haue the zeale of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they, being ignorant of the righteousnes of God, and going about to stablish their owne righteousnes, haue not submitted themselues to the righteousnes of God.
• Phil 3:9 : 9 And might bee founde in him, that is, not hauing mine owne righteousnesse, which is of the Lawe, but that which is through the faith of Christ, euen the righteousnesse which is of God through faith,
• Heb 12:14 : 14 Followe peace with all men, and holinesse, without the which no man shall see ye Lord.
• Luke 16:14-15 : 14 All these thinges heard the Pharises also which were couetous, and they scoffed at him. 15 Then he sayde vnto them, Yee are they, which iustifie your selues before men: but God knoweth your heartes: for that which is highly esteemed among men, is abomination in the sight of God.
• Luke 18:24-25 : 24 And when Iesus sawe him very sorowfull, he said, With what difficultie shall they that haue riches, enter into the kingdome of God! 25 Surely it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye, then for a riche man to enter into the kingdome of God.
• Luke 18:10-14 : 10 Two men went vp into the Temple to pray: the one a Pharise, and the other a Publican. 11 The Pharise stoode and prayed thus with himselfe, O God, I thanke thee that I am not as other men, extortioners, vniust, adulterers, or euen as this Publican. 12 I fast twise in the weeke: I giue tithe of all that euer I possesse. 13 But the Publican standing a farre off, woulde not lift vp so much as his eyes to heauen, but smote his brest, saying, O God, be mercifull to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man departed to his house iustified, rather then the other: for euery man that exalteth himselfe, shall be brought lowe, and he that humbleth himselfe, shalbe exalted.
• Luke 18:17 : 17 Verely I say vnto you, whosoeuer receiueth not the kingdome of God as a babe, he shall not enter therein.
• 2 Cor 5:17 : 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, let him be a newe creature. Olde things are passed away: beholde, all things are become newe.
• Rom 9:30-32 : 30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles which folowed not righteousnes, haue attained vnto righteousnes, euen the righteousnes which is of faith. 31 But Israel which followed the Lawe of righteousnes, could not arteine vnto the Law of righteousnes. 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the workes of the Lawe: for they haue stumbled at the stumbling stone,
• Matt 3:10 : 10 And now also is the axe put to the roote of the trees: therfore euery tree which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewen downe, & cast into ye fire.
• Matt 7:21 : 21 Not euery one that sayeth vnto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdome of heauen, but he that doeth my Fathers will which is in heauen.
• Matt 18:5 : 5 And whosoeuer shall receiue one such litle childe in my name, receiueth me.
• Matt 23:2-5 : 2 Saying, The Scribes and the Pharises sit in Moses seate. 3 All therefore whatsoeuer they bid you obserue, that obserue and doe: but after their workes doe not: for they say, and doe not. 4 For they binde heauie burdens, & grieuous to be borne, and lay them on mens shoulders, but they themselues will not moue them with one of their fingers. 5 All their workes they doe for to be seene of men: for they make their phylacteries broad, and make long the frindges of their garments,
• Matt 23:23-28 : 23 Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye tithe mynt, & annyse, & cummyn, & leaue the weightier matters of the law, as iudgement, and mercy and fidelitie. These ought ye to haue done, and not to haue left the other. 24 Ye blinde guides, which straine out a gnat, and swallowe a camell. 25 Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye make cleane the vtter side of the cup, and of the platter: but within they are ful of briberie and excesse. 26 Thou blinde Pharise, cleanse first the inside of the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be cleane also. 27 Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye are like vnto whited tombes, which appeare beautifull outward, but are within full of dead mens bones, and all filthines. 28 So are ye also: for outwarde ye appeare righteous vnto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisie and iniquitie.
• Mark 10:15 : 15 Verely I say vnto you, Whosoeuer shall not receiue the kingdome of God as a litle childe, he shall not enter therein.
• Mark 10:25 : 25 It is easier for a camel to goe through the eye of a needle, then for a riche man to enter into the kingdome of God.
• Luke 11:39-40 : 39 And the Lord saide to him, In deede yee Pharises make cleane the outside of the cuppe, and of the platter: but the inwarde part is full of rauening and wickednesse. 40 Ye fooles, did not he that made that which is without, make that which is within also?
• Luke 11:44 : 44 Wo be to you, Scribes and Pharises, hypocrites: for ye are as graues which appeare not, and the men that walke ouer them, perceiue not.
• Luke 12:1 : 1 In the meane time, there gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, so that they trode one another: and he began to say vnto his disciples first, Take heede to your selues of the leauen of the Pharises, which is hypocrisie.
• Rev 21:27 : 27 And there shall enter into it none vncleane thing, neither whatsoeuer woorketh abomination or lies: but they which are written in ye Lambes booke of life.
• Luke 20:46-47 : 46 Beware of the Scribes, which willingly go in long robes, and loue salutations in the markets, and the hiest seates in the assemblies, and the chiefe roomes at feastes: 47 Which deuoure widowes houses, and in shewe make long prayers: These shall receiue greater damnation.