Focused Passage

Matthew 5:17-20

Kingdom Blessedness, Fulfilled Law, and Heart-Level Righteousness

Matthew moves from kingdom blessedness, to disciple witness, to Jesus' fulfillment of Scripture, to a righteousness that surpasses externalism by addressing the heart before God.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

18 For I tell you truly, until heaven and earth pass away, not a single jot, not a stroke of a pen, will disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.

19 So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 17

Cross-references

Romans 10:4 Classic cross-references Luke 16:17 Classic cross-references Galatians 4:4 Classic cross-references Romans 8:4 Classic cross-references Romans 3:31 Classic cross-references

Original words

{Do} not Μὴ G3361 Adverb think νομίσητε G3543 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction I have come ἦλθον G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular to abolish καταλῦσαι G2647 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active the τὸν G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Singular Law νόμον G3551 Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular or ἢ G2228 Conjunction the τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural Prophets προφήτας G4396 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural I have not come ἦλθον G2064 Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular . . . οὐκ G3756 Adverb to abolish [them] καταλῦσαι G2647 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active but ἀλλὰ G235 Conjunction to fulfill [them] πληρῶσαι G4137 Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active

Verse 18

Cross-references

Matthew 24:35 Classic cross-references Luke 16:17 Classic cross-references Isaiah 40:8 Classic cross-references Isaiah 34:16 Classic cross-references James 2:10 Classic cross-references

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural truly ἀμὴν G281 Hebrew Word until ἕως G2193 Conjunction . . . ἂν G302 Particle - ὁ G3588 Article - Nominative Masculine Singular heaven οὐρανὸς G3772 Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction - ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular earth γῆ G1093 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular pass away παρέλθῃ G3928 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular not οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb a single ἓν G1520 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Singular jot ἰῶτα G2503 Noun - Nominative Neuter Singular not ἢ G2228 Conjunction a μία G1520 Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular stroke of a pen κεραία G2762 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular will disappear παρέλθῃ G3928 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular from ἀπὸ G575 Preposition the τοῦ G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Singular Law νόμου G3551 Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular until ἕως G2193 Conjunction . . . ἂν G302 Particle everything πάντα G3956 Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural is accomplished γένηται G1096 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 3rd Person Singular

Verse 19

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:32 Classic cross-references James 2:10 Classic cross-references Matthew 23:23 Classic cross-references Matthew 28:20 Classic cross-references Romans 13:8 Classic cross-references

Original words

vvv ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction So then οὖν G3767 Conjunction whoever Ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular breaks λύσῃ G3089 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular one μίαν G1520 Adjective - Accusative Feminine Singular of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural - τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Feminine Plural least ἐλαχίστων G1646 Adjective - Genitive Feminine Plural - Superlative of these τούτων G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Genitive Feminine Plural commandments ἐντολῶν G1785 Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction teaches διδάξῃ G1321 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular - τοὺς G3588 Article - Accusative Masculine Plural others ἀνθρώπους G444 Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural to do likewise οὕτως G3779 Adverb will be called κληθήσεται G2564 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular least ἐλάχιστος G1646 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular - Superlative in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείᾳ G932 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural but δ’ G1161 Conjunction whoever ὃς G3739 Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular . . . ἂν G302 Particle practices ποιήσῃ G4160 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular and καὶ G2532 Conjunction teaches [them] διδάξῃ G1321 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular - οὗτος G3778 Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular will be called κληθήσεται G2564 Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular great μέγας G3173 Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular in ἐν G1722 Preposition the τῇ G3588 Article - Dative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείᾳ G932 Noun - Dative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural

Verse 20

Cross-references

Romans 10:2 Classic cross-references Philippians 3:9 Classic cross-references Romans 9:30 Classic cross-references Luke 16:14 Classic cross-references Matthew 23:2 Classic cross-references

Original words

For γὰρ G1063 Conjunction I tell λέγω G3004 Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular you ὑμῖν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural that ὅτι G3754 Conjunction unless ἐὰν G1437 Conjunction . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb your ὑμῶν G4771 Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural - ἡ G3588 Article - Nominative Feminine Singular righteousness δικαιοσύνη G1343 Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular exceeds περισσεύσῃ G4052 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular . . . πλεῖον G4119 Adjective - Accusative Neuter Singular - Comparative [that] of the τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural scribes γραμματέων G1122 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural and καὶ G2532 Conjunction Pharisees Φαρισαίων G5330 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural you will never enter εἰσέλθητε G1525 Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural . . . οὐ G3756 Adverb . . . μὴ G3361 Adverb . . . εἰς G1519 Preposition the τὴν G3588 Article - Accusative Feminine Singular kingdom βασιλείαν G932 Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular of τῶν G3588 Article - Genitive Masculine Plural heaven οὐρανῶν G3772 Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural

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