| The Hebrew Synoptic Gospels |
| Matthew 5: 20 |
The meaning of the Old Testament word tsedakah had changed from"righteousness" to "almsgiving" by the time of Jesus. To the Pharisees, almsgiving was the mostimportant aspect of righteousness. The "Kingdom of Heaven" is the name for the body ofdisciples of Jesus. He warns that if one's righteousness is reduced to almsgiving, one cannotbe in His movement.
| AAT | I tell you, unless your righteousness is much better than that of the Biblescholars and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. |
| AB | For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing withGod) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom ofheaven. |
| CEV | You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obeythem. If you don't, I promise you that you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. |
| CJB | For I tell you that unless your righteousness is far greater than that of theTorah-teachers and P'rushim, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven! |
| CNT | And one more thing. Unless the righteousness of conduct found in you surpasses that foundin the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never gain entry into the kingdom ofheaven. |
| DRB | For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Footnote: Thescribes and the Pharisees: The scribes were the doctors of the law of Moses: the Phariseeswere a precise set of men, making profession of a more exact observance of the law: and uponthat account greatly esteemed among the people. |
| GW | I can guarantee that unless you live a life that has God's approval and do it morefaithfully than the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. |
| LB | But I warn you -- unless your goodness is greater than that of the Pharisees and otherJewish leaders, you can't get into the Kingdom of Heaven at all! Footnote:goodness: Literally, "righteousness." |
| MCT | I assure you that, unless your righteousness is more than that of the scribes andPharisees, you shall in no way enter heaven's kingdom. |
| NCV | I tell that if you are no more obedient than the teachers of the law and the Pharisees,you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. |
| NEB | I tell you, unless you show yourselves far better men than the Pharisees and the doctorsof the law, you can never enter the kingdom of Heaven. |
| NJB | For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees,you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven. |
| NLV | I tell you, unless you are more right with God than the teachers of the Law and the proudreligious law-keepers, you will never get into the holy nation of heaven. |
| RSV | For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, youwill never enter the kingdom of heaven. |
| SNB | For I say unto you, that unless your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes andPharisees, in nowise may ye enter into the Kingdom of the heavens. |
| TEV | I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you aremore faithful than the teachers of the Law and Pharisees in doing what God requires. |
| TM | Unless you do far better than the Pharisees in the matters of right living, you won't knowthe first thing about entering the kingdom. |
| WNT | For I tell you that unless your righteousness far surpasses that of the scribes andPharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven at all. |
No version clearly states what the righteousness of the Pharisees is. However,a few come close to the intent. The plural of "heaven" occurs again. Also, the idea of aphysical place is implied. The kingdom is the rule of God and the realm of his blessings; thechurch is the people of the kingdom who have received it, who witness to it, and who willinherit it. The fundamental principle of the kingdom is that where the king is, there is thekingdom.