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

⁹ and be found in him, not having ^(A)a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but ^(B)that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—

² For I bear them witness that ^(A)they have a zeal for God, ^(B)but not according to knowledge. ³ For, being ignorant of ^(C)the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

Israel's Unbelief

³⁰ What shall we say, then? ^(A)That Gentiles who did not pursue righteousness have attained it, that is, ^(B)a righteousness that is by faith; ³¹ but that Israel ^(C)who pursued a law that would lead to righteousness^{[a] (D)}did not succeed in reaching that law. ³² Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if it were based on works. They have stumbled over the ^(E)stumbling stone,

The Law and the Kingdom of God

^14 (A)The Pharisees, who were ^(B)lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ^(C)ridiculed him. ¹⁵ And he said to them, “You are those who ^(D)justify yourselves before men, but ^(E)God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men ^(F)is an abomination in the sight of God.

^2 (A)“The scribes and the Pharisees ^(B)sit on Moses' seat, ³ so do and observe whatever they tell you, ^(C)but not the works they do. ^(D)For they preach, but do not practice. ^4 (E)They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,^[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. ^5 (F)They do all their deeds ^(G)to be seen by others. For they make ^(H)their phylacteries broad and ^(I)their fringes long,

^14 (A)Strive for peace with everyone, and for the ^(B)holiness ^(C)without which no one will see the Lord.

³ Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is ^(A)born ^(B)again^[a] he cannot ^(C)see the kingdom of God.” ⁴ Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” ⁵ Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born ^(D)of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

^23 (A)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ^(B)you tithe mint and dill and ^(C)cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: ^(D)justice and mercy and faithfulness. ^(E)These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing ^(F)a camel!

^25 (G)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ^(H)you clean the outside of ^(I)the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of ^(J)greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of ^(K)the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

^27 (L)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like ^(M)whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and ^(N)all uncleanness. ²⁸ So you also ^(O)outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of ^(P)hypocrisy and lawlessness.