Matthew 5:20

5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law ¹  and the Pharisees, ²  you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 18:3

18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, ³  unless you turn around and become like little children, ⁴  you will never ⁵  enter the kingdom of heaven!

Matthew 26:42

26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, ⁶  “My Father, if this cup ⁷  cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will must be done.”

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¹ tn Or “that of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

² sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

³ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

⁴ sn The point of the comparison become like little children has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit, as well as willingness to be dependent and receive from others, than any inherent humility the child might possess.

⁵ tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong here.

⁶ tn Grk “saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant here in contemporary English and has not been translated.

⁷ tn Grk “this”; the referent (the cup) has been specified in the translation for clarity.