Matthew 5:20 — Community Reflections

MATTHEW 5:20 — KING JAMES VERSION 0

“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 I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was extensive: detailed attention to the law's every provision, tithing of herbs (Matthew 23:23), extended fasting, careful prayer. How does anyone's righteousness exceed this? The answer lies in what kind of righteousness is in view: the scribes and Pharisees focused on external compliance; the righteousness Jesus describes in the antitheses that follow is the righteousness of the heart — the righteousness that addresses the root of sin (anger, lust, deception) rather than only its fruit. Romans 9:31–32 says Israel pursued righteousness through the law but did not attain it because they pursued it not by faith; the righteousness that exceeds is the righteousness of a transformed heart.

Church Fathers on Matthew 5:20

Beautiful entrance He here makes to a teaching beyond the works of the Law, declaring to the Apostles that they should have no admission to the kingdom of heaven without a righteousness beyond that of Pharisees.
Hilary of Poitiers · 4th century

By righteousness is here meant universal virtue. But observe the superior power of grace, in that He requires of His disciples who were yet uninstructed to be better than those who were masters unto the Old Testament. Thus He does not call the Scribes and Pharisees unrighteous, but speaks of 'their righteousness.' And see how ever herein He confirms the Old Testament that He compares it with the New, for the greater and the less are always of the same kind.
Chrysostom · 4th century

The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees are the commandments of Moses; but the commandments of Christ are the fulfilment of that Law. This then is His meaning; Whosoever in addition to the commandments of the Law shall not fulfil My commandments, shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. For those indeed save from the punishment due to transgressors of the Law, but do not bring into the kingdom; but My commandments both deliver from punishment, and bring into the…
Pseudo-Chrysostom · 5th century

Read all 31 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

Publish a reflection on this verse

No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!