What Is the Sermon on the Mount — In Biblical Context
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is Jesus' most comprehensive teaching — covering kingdom ethics, prayer, worry, judging, and the radical standards of heart righteousness.
The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is Jesus' most comprehensive teaching — covering kingdom ethics, prayer, worry, judging, and the radical standards of heart righteousness.
"Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." — Matthew 5:20 (KJV)
The Biblical Context
Delivered on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee, the Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' magna carta of the kingdom. It opens with the Beatitudes (5:3-12), describing the blessed character of kingdom citizens. Jesus raises the bar beyond external obedience to heart transformation: anger equals murder (5:21-22), lust equals adultery (5:27-28). He teaches enemy-love (5:44), secret prayer (6:5-6), the Lord's Prayer (6:9-13), fasting without show (6:16-18), storing treasures in heaven (6:19-21), freedom from worry (6:25-34), and the Golden Rule (7:12). He warns against judging (7:1-5), false prophets (7:15-20), and mere profession without obedience (7:21-23). He concludes with the parable of the wise and foolish builders — those who hear His words and do them versus those who hear but don't obey (7:24-27). The crowds were 'astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority' (7:28-29). The sermon reveals that true righteousness exceeds the scribes and Pharisees' external religion (5:20).
Where It Sits in Scripture
The core passage for this question, Matthew 5:20, sits inside Matthew 5. To grasp the full meaning, read the surrounding paragraph — the verses before set up the thought, the verses after carry it forward.
"Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven."
Supporting Passages
"Whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock."
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."
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