What Does This Mean: Matthew 5:20 Kjv - Except Your Righteousness Shall Exceed the Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees?
1) Direct answer
It means entrance into the Kingdom requires a righteousness that is not outward rule‑keeping like the scribes and Pharisees, but an inward righteousness—Christ’s own life in you—fulfilling God’s law from the heart by the Holy Ghost.
2) Scriptural explanation
- The Bible says the Pharisees were clean outside but full of uncleanness within (Matthew 23:25–28). Jesus was not asking for “more” of that; He demanded a different kind: heart righteousness.
- Right in this chapter, Jesus raises the law to the heart level: anger is murder in seed, lust is adultery in seed (Matthew 5:21–28). That shows the righteousness God requires is inward.
- By the law shall no flesh be justified (Romans 3:20; Galatians 2:16). If outward works could open the Kingdom, the Pharisees would have qualified.
- Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth (Romans 10:4). God made Him to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21).
- The new covenant writes the law in the heart (Hebrews 8:10; Ezekiel 36:26–27), so that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:3–4).
- You must be born again to see and enter the Kingdom (John 3:3–5). That new birth is the only way your righteousness can exceed theirs.
3) Simple clarifying logic
- How will you “out‑Pharisee” the Pharisees—men who fasted, tithed, and kept traditions strictly—if righteousness is measured by external performance? You can’t.
- Jesus exposed the heart. Since sin begins within, righteousness must begin within. That’s why He pointed from acts to motives.
- The law can measure you but cannot change you. Christ gives a new nature; then the life of the Spirit produces what the law demanded: love that fulfills the law (Romans 13:10), the fruit of the Spirit against which there is no law (Galatians 5:22–23).
- So “exceed” means a higher quality, not a higher quantity—God’s righteousness, not self‑righteousness. It is received by faith and proven by a transformed walk.
4) Reinforcing statement
Repent and believe the Gospel, be identified with Christ, and receive the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38). Then the One who wrote the law will live it through you. That is the righteousness that exceeds and that opens the Kingdom.
Ask a Follow-up Question
What did the Laodicean Church Age (our age) Angel (- messenger) Say about this?
Ranked passages from the local William Branham sermon and Church Age Book database. Relevance is relative, not a statement of doctrinal certainty.
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 3:E-69
Now it does not mean that she could not have repented. It does not mean that we cannot repent. We can. But it must be quickly. It must be a true heart cry to God in sorrow, and then God will restore. The glory shall come again.
A Missionary Talk
58-0330A §10
...into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them ... confirming the word with signs following. Amen. This is one of the most outstanding missionary texts that could be taken. You know, in our Word, the first commission God ... or, Christ gave to His church was, "Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils, raise the dead, as freely as you have received, freely give." St. Matthew, the 10th chapter. The last commission He gave to His churc...
An Exposition Of The Seven Church Ages
CAB 6:E-80
...rough all the ages there are two groups, both proclaiming their revelation from God and their relationship to God. "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them which are His." II Timothy 2:19. "The Lord searcheth the reins." The word 'search' means to 'track' or 'follow up.' God tracks down our thoughts (reins); He knows what is in our hearts. He sees our works which are a definite manifestation of what lies within us. It is out of the heart that proceeds either righteo...
Living, dying, buried, rising, coming
59-0329S §5
...ise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before him. For the kingdom is the LORD's: and he is the governor among the nations. All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and...
Seals 8: The Sixth Seal
63-0323 §64
...nd also that it was martyr. "They shall deliver you up and kill you," and so forth. See, the same seal being opened. Now, in the sixth seal is the one we are coming to now. Matthew 24:29 and 30 ... 24, and let's get 29 and 30. Here we are. Now, we are going to get also Revelation 6:12 to 17. That's exactly what we just read. Now, listen at this. Now, it's what Jesus said in Matthew 29 ... 24:29 and 30. Immediately after the tribulation of those days [What ... it's tribulation of this ... amateur tribulation they've...