Matthew 5:19-20 KJV

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 5:20

Matthew 5:20. For, except your righteousness shall exceed Gr. περισσευση , shall abound more than the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees Than that which is apparent in their lives, or even required in their precepts, as is described in the sequel of this discourse, as highly as they are generally esteemed; ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven That is, into the kingdom of glory after you die, or be owned by the Son of man as his subjects while you live. It is... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 5:17-20

39. A right attitude to the law (Matthew 5:17-20)In a lengthy section that runs through to the end of the chapter, Jesus points out that it is not good enough merely to follow the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees. Realizing that people may think he is in some way opposed to the law of Moses, Jesus explains at the outset that this is not so. He does not abolish the Old Testament or overthrow its authority. On the contrary he gives it fuller meaning. He is its goal, and it finds its... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:19

Whosoever = every one that (with Greek. an. Supposing the case). See note on "Till", Matthew 5:18 . Note the Figure of speech Anaphora ( App-6 ). these least = these shortest. Referring not to what men might thus distinguish, but to the difference made by the Lord between the whole Law and its minutiae. read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 5:20

the righteousness. Supply "[that]". Pharisees. See App-120 . in no case. See App-105 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 5:19

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.In this verse, Christ plainly refers to his own commandments with the strong warning that men are under obligations to heed and observe the laws he gives. Today, there are some who speak of certain Scriptures as "mere command"! But Christ made his commandments to be of... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 5:20

For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.The religion of the Pharisees, hence their righteousness, consisted of externals, ceremonials, rituals, liturgies, and formalities of many kinds, with little or no attention being paid to the condition of the heart. Christ flatly denounced such a concept and indicated that no one could be saved in such a state as that of the typical... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 5:17-20

Matthew 5:17-20. Think not that I am come to destroy, &c.— Because the doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ concerning happiness was contrary to that which the Jews were accustomed to hear, and which their preachers pretended to derive from the prophets, whose descriptions of the glory of the Messiah's kingdom they understood in a literal sense; also because he was about to give explications of the moral precepts, of very different tenor from those which the Scribes and Pharisees commonlygave,... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:19

19. Whosoever therefore shall break—rather, "dissolve," "annul," or "make invalid." one of these least commandments—an expression equivalent to "one of the least of these commandments." and shall teach men so—referring to the Pharisees and their teaching, as is plain from Matthew 5:20, but of course embracing all similar schools and teaching in the Christian Church. he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven—As the thing spoken of is not the practical breaking, or disobeying, of the... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 5:20

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... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 5:17-20

Jesus’ view of the Old Testament 5:17-20It was natural for Jesus to explain His view of the Old Testament since He would shortly proceed to interpret it to His hearers. read more