Matius 5:3

5:3 “Blessed ¹  are the poor in spirit, ²  for the kingdom of heaven belongs ³  to them.

Matius 5:10

5:10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.

Matius 5:20

5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law ⁴  and the Pharisees, ⁵  you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Matius 7:21

Judgment of Pretenders

7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ ⁶  will enter into the kingdom of heaven – only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

Matius 19:14

19:14 But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ⁷ 

Matius 19:23-24

19:23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, ⁸  it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 19:24 Again I say, ⁹  it is easier for a camel ¹⁰  to go through the eye of a needle ¹¹  than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.”

[5:3]  ¹ sn The term Blessed introduces the first of several beatitudes promising blessing to those whom God cares for. They serve as an invitation to come into the grace God offers.

[5:3]  ² sn The poor in spirit is a reference to the “pious poor” for whom God especially cares. See Ps 14:6; 22:24; 25:16; 34:6; 40:17; 69:29.

[5:3]  ³ sn The present tense (belongs) here is significant. Jesus makes the kingdom and its blessings currently available. This phrase is unlike the others in the list with the possessive pronoun being emphasized.

[5:20]  ⁴ tn Or “that of the scribes.” See the note on the phrase “experts in the law” in 2:4.

[5:20]  ⁵ sn See the note on Pharisees in 3:7.

[7:21]  ⁶ sn The double use of the vocative is normally used in situations of high emotion or emphasis. Even an emphatic confession without action means little.

[19:14]  ⁷ sn The kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. Children are a picture of those whose simple trust illustrates what faith is all about. The remark illustrates how everyone is important to God, even those whom others regard as insignificant.

[19:23]  ⁸ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[19:24]  ⁹ tn Grk “I say to you.”

[19:24]  ¹⁰ tc A few late witnesses (579 1424 pc) read κάμιλον (kamilon, “rope”) for κάμηλον (kamhlon, “camel”), either through accidental misreading of the text or intentionally so as to soften Jesus’ words.

[19:24]  ¹¹ sn The eye of a needle refers to a sewing needle. (The gate in Jerusalem known as “The Needle’s Eye” was built during the middle ages and was not in existence in Jesus’ day.) Jesus was saying rhetorically that it is impossible for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom, unless God (v. 26) intervenes.