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18 I[a] tell you the truth,[b] until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or stroke of a letter[c] will pass from the law until everything takes place. 19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches others[d] to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law[e] and the Pharisees,[f] you will never enter the kingdom of heaven!

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 5:18 tn Grk “For I tell.” Here an explanatory γάρ (gar) has not been translated.
  2. Matthew 5:18 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amēn), I say to you.”
  3. Matthew 5:18 tn Grk “Not one iota or one serif.” sn The smallest letter refers to the smallest Hebrew letter (yod) and the stroke of a letter to a serif (a hook or projection on a Hebrew letter).
  4. Matthew 5:19 tn Grk “teaches men” ( in a generic sense, people).
  5. Matthew 5:20 tn Or “that of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.
  6. Matthew 5:20 sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.(A) 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands(B) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(C)

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