diff --git a/claims.go b/claims.go
index b2dc6b2d..9d95cad2 100644
--- a/claims.go
+++ b/claims.go
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ import (
 // Claims must just have a Valid method that determines
 // if the token is invalid for any supported reason
 type Claims interface {
-	// Valid implements claim validation. The opts are function style options that can
-	// be used to fine-tune the validation. The type used for the options is intentionally
-	// un-exported, since its API and its naming is subject to change.
-	Valid(opts ...validationOption) error
+	Valid() error
 }
 
 // RegisteredClaims are a structured version of the JWT Claims Set,
@@ -51,13 +48,13 @@ type RegisteredClaims struct {
 // There is no accounting for clock skew.
 // As well, if any of the above claims are not in the token, it will still
 // be considered a valid claim.
-func (c RegisteredClaims) Valid(opts ...validationOption) error {
+func (c RegisteredClaims) Valid() error {
 	vErr := new(ValidationError)
 	now := TimeFunc()
 
 	// The claims below are optional, by default, so if they are set to the
 	// default value in Go, let's not fail the verification for them.
-	if !c.VerifyExpiresAt(now, false, opts...) {
+	if !c.VerifyExpiresAt(now, false) {
 		delta := now.Sub(c.ExpiresAt.Time)
 		vErr.Inner = fmt.Errorf("%s by %s", ErrTokenExpired, delta)
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorExpired
@@ -68,7 +65,7 @@ func (c RegisteredClaims) Valid(opts ...validationOption) error {
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorIssuedAt
 	}
 
-	if !c.VerifyNotBefore(now, false, opts...) {
+	if !c.VerifyNotBefore(now, false) {
 		vErr.Inner = ErrTokenNotValidYet
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorNotValidYet
 	}
@@ -88,16 +85,12 @@ func (c *RegisteredClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
 
 // VerifyExpiresAt compares the exp claim against cmp (cmp < exp).
 // If req is false, it will return true, if exp is unset.
-func (c *RegisteredClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp time.Time, req bool, opts ...validationOption) bool {
-	validator := validator{}
-	for _, o := range opts {
-		o(&validator)
-	}
+func (c *RegisteredClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp time.Time, req bool) bool {
 	if c.ExpiresAt == nil {
-		return verifyExp(nil, cmp, req, validator.leeway)
+		return verifyExp(nil, cmp, req)
 	}
 
-	return verifyExp(&c.ExpiresAt.Time, cmp, req, validator.leeway)
+	return verifyExp(&c.ExpiresAt.Time, cmp, req)
 }
 
 // VerifyIssuedAt compares the iat claim against cmp (cmp >= iat).
@@ -112,16 +105,12 @@ func (c *RegisteredClaims) VerifyIssuedAt(cmp time.Time, req bool) bool {
 
 // VerifyNotBefore compares the nbf claim against cmp (cmp >= nbf).
 // If req is false, it will return true, if nbf is unset.
-func (c *RegisteredClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp time.Time, req bool, opts ...validationOption) bool {
-	validator := validator{}
-	for _, o := range opts {
-		o(&validator)
-	}
+func (c *RegisteredClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp time.Time, req bool) bool {
 	if c.NotBefore == nil {
-		return verifyNbf(nil, cmp, req, validator.leeway)
+		return verifyNbf(nil, cmp, req)
 	}
 
-	return verifyNbf(&c.NotBefore.Time, cmp, req, validator.leeway)
+	return verifyNbf(&c.NotBefore.Time, cmp, req)
 }
 
 // VerifyIssuer compares the iss claim against cmp.
@@ -152,13 +141,13 @@ type StandardClaims struct {
 // Valid validates time based claims "exp, iat, nbf". There is no accounting for clock skew.
 // As well, if any of the above claims are not in the token, it will still
 // be considered a valid claim.
-func (c StandardClaims) Valid(opts ...validationOption) error {
+func (c StandardClaims) Valid() error {
 	vErr := new(ValidationError)
 	now := TimeFunc().Unix()
 
 	// The claims below are optional, by default, so if they are set to the
 	// default value in Go, let's not fail the verification for them.
-	if !c.VerifyExpiresAt(now, false, opts...) {
+	if !c.VerifyExpiresAt(now, false) {
 		delta := time.Unix(now, 0).Sub(time.Unix(c.ExpiresAt, 0))
 		vErr.Inner = fmt.Errorf("%s by %s", ErrTokenExpired, delta)
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorExpired
@@ -169,7 +158,7 @@ func (c StandardClaims) Valid(opts ...validationOption) error {
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorIssuedAt
 	}
 
-	if !c.VerifyNotBefore(now, false, opts...) {
+	if !c.VerifyNotBefore(now, false) {
 		vErr.Inner = ErrTokenNotValidYet
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorNotValidYet
 	}
@@ -189,17 +178,13 @@ func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
 
 // VerifyExpiresAt compares the exp claim against cmp (cmp < exp).
 // If req is false, it will return true, if exp is unset.
-func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp int64, req bool, opts ...validationOption) bool {
-	validator := validator{}
-	for _, o := range opts {
-		o(&validator)
-	}
+func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 	if c.ExpiresAt == 0 {
-		return verifyExp(nil, time.Unix(cmp, 0), req, validator.leeway)
+		return verifyExp(nil, time.Unix(cmp, 0), req)
 	}
 
 	t := time.Unix(c.ExpiresAt, 0)
-	return verifyExp(&t, time.Unix(cmp, 0), req, validator.leeway)
+	return verifyExp(&t, time.Unix(cmp, 0), req)
 }
 
 // VerifyIssuedAt compares the iat claim against cmp (cmp >= iat).
@@ -215,17 +200,13 @@ func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyIssuedAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 
 // VerifyNotBefore compares the nbf claim against cmp (cmp >= nbf).
 // If req is false, it will return true, if nbf is unset.
-func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool, opts ...validationOption) bool {
-	validator := validator{}
-	for _, o := range opts {
-		o(&validator)
-	}
+func (c *StandardClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 	if c.NotBefore == 0 {
-		return verifyNbf(nil, time.Unix(cmp, 0), req, validator.leeway)
+		return verifyNbf(nil, time.Unix(cmp, 0), req)
 	}
 
 	t := time.Unix(c.NotBefore, 0)
-	return verifyNbf(&t, time.Unix(cmp, 0), req, validator.leeway)
+	return verifyNbf(&t, time.Unix(cmp, 0), req)
 }
 
 // VerifyIssuer compares the iss claim against cmp.
@@ -259,11 +240,11 @@ func verifyAud(aud []string, cmp string, required bool) bool {
 	return result
 }
 
-func verifyExp(exp *time.Time, now time.Time, required bool, skew time.Duration) bool {
+func verifyExp(exp *time.Time, now time.Time, required bool) bool {
 	if exp == nil {
 		return !required
 	}
-	return now.Before((*exp).Add(+skew))
+	return now.Before(*exp)
 }
 
 func verifyIat(iat *time.Time, now time.Time, required bool) bool {
@@ -273,12 +254,11 @@ func verifyIat(iat *time.Time, now time.Time, required bool) bool {
 	return now.After(*iat) || now.Equal(*iat)
 }
 
-func verifyNbf(nbf *time.Time, now time.Time, required bool, skew time.Duration) bool {
+func verifyNbf(nbf *time.Time, now time.Time, required bool) bool {
 	if nbf == nil {
 		return !required
 	}
-	t := (*nbf).Add(-skew)
-	return now.After(t) || now.Equal(t)
+	return now.After(*nbf) || now.Equal(*nbf)
 }
 
 func verifyIss(iss string, cmp string, required bool) bool {
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 5873e3a4..2f215c5e 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
 module github.com/golang-jwt/jwt/v4
 
 go 1.16
+
+retract (
+    v4.4.0 // Contains a backwards incompatible change to the Claims interface.
+)
diff --git a/map_claims.go b/map_claims.go
index e4a08079..2700d64a 100644
--- a/map_claims.go
+++ b/map_claims.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func (m MapClaims) VerifyAudience(cmp string, req bool) bool {
 
 // VerifyExpiresAt compares the exp claim against cmp (cmp <= exp).
 // If req is false, it will return true, if exp is unset.
-func (m MapClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp int64, req bool, opts ...validationOption) bool {
+func (m MapClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 	cmpTime := time.Unix(cmp, 0)
 
 	v, ok := m["exp"]
@@ -42,22 +42,17 @@ func (m MapClaims) VerifyExpiresAt(cmp int64, req bool, opts ...validationOption
 		return !req
 	}
 
-	validator := validator{}
-	for _, o := range opts {
-		o(&validator)
-	}
-
 	switch exp := v.(type) {
 	case float64:
 		if exp == 0 {
-			return verifyExp(nil, cmpTime, req, validator.leeway)
+			return verifyExp(nil, cmpTime, req)
 		}
 
-		return verifyExp(&newNumericDateFromSeconds(exp).Time, cmpTime, req, validator.leeway)
+		return verifyExp(&newNumericDateFromSeconds(exp).Time, cmpTime, req)
 	case json.Number:
 		v, _ := exp.Float64()
 
-		return verifyExp(&newNumericDateFromSeconds(v).Time, cmpTime, req, validator.leeway)
+		return verifyExp(&newNumericDateFromSeconds(v).Time, cmpTime, req)
 	}
 
 	return false
@@ -91,7 +86,7 @@ func (m MapClaims) VerifyIssuedAt(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 
 // VerifyNotBefore compares the nbf claim against cmp (cmp >= nbf).
 // If req is false, it will return true, if nbf is unset.
-func (m MapClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool, opts ...validationOption) bool {
+func (m MapClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool) bool {
 	cmpTime := time.Unix(cmp, 0)
 
 	v, ok := m["nbf"]
@@ -99,22 +94,17 @@ func (m MapClaims) VerifyNotBefore(cmp int64, req bool, opts ...validationOption
 		return !req
 	}
 
-	validator := validator{}
-	for _, o := range opts {
-		o(&validator)
-	}
-
 	switch nbf := v.(type) {
 	case float64:
 		if nbf == 0 {
-			return verifyNbf(nil, cmpTime, req, validator.leeway)
+			return verifyNbf(nil, cmpTime, req)
 		}
 
-		return verifyNbf(&newNumericDateFromSeconds(nbf).Time, cmpTime, req, validator.leeway)
+		return verifyNbf(&newNumericDateFromSeconds(nbf).Time, cmpTime, req)
 	case json.Number:
 		v, _ := nbf.Float64()
 
-		return verifyNbf(&newNumericDateFromSeconds(v).Time, cmpTime, req, validator.leeway)
+		return verifyNbf(&newNumericDateFromSeconds(v).Time, cmpTime, req)
 	}
 
 	return false
@@ -131,11 +121,11 @@ func (m MapClaims) VerifyIssuer(cmp string, req bool) bool {
 // There is no accounting for clock skew.
 // As well, if any of the above claims are not in the token, it will still
 // be considered a valid claim.
-func (m MapClaims) Valid(opts ...validationOption) error {
+func (m MapClaims) Valid() error {
 	vErr := new(ValidationError)
 	now := TimeFunc().Unix()
 
-	if !m.VerifyExpiresAt(now, false, opts...) {
+	if !m.VerifyExpiresAt(now, false) {
 		// TODO(oxisto): this should be replaced with ErrTokenExpired
 		vErr.Inner = errors.New("Token is expired")
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorExpired
@@ -147,7 +137,7 @@ func (m MapClaims) Valid(opts ...validationOption) error {
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorIssuedAt
 	}
 
-	if !m.VerifyNotBefore(now, false, opts...) {
+	if !m.VerifyNotBefore(now, false) {
 		// TODO(oxisto): this should be replaced with ErrTokenNotValidYet
 		vErr.Inner = errors.New("Token is not valid yet")
 		vErr.Errors |= ValidationErrorNotValidYet
diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index 6c9128e8..2f61a69d 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -22,8 +22,6 @@ type Parser struct {
 	//
 	// Deprecated: In future releases, this field will not be exported anymore and should be set with an option to NewParser instead.
 	SkipClaimsValidation bool
-
-	validationOptions []validationOption
 }
 
 // NewParser creates a new Parser with the specified options
@@ -84,7 +82,8 @@ func (p *Parser) ParseWithClaims(tokenString string, claims Claims, keyFunc Keyf
 
 	// Validate Claims
 	if !p.SkipClaimsValidation {
-		if err := token.Claims.Valid(p.validationOptions...); err != nil {
+		if err := token.Claims.Valid(); err != nil {
+
 			// If the Claims Valid returned an error, check if it is a validation error,
 			// If it was another error type, create a ValidationError with a generic ClaimsInvalid flag set
 			if e, ok := err.(*ValidationError); !ok {
diff --git a/parser_option.go b/parser_option.go
index a7976645..6ea6f952 100644
--- a/parser_option.go
+++ b/parser_option.go
@@ -1,7 +1,5 @@
 package jwt
 
-import "time"
-
 // ParserOption is used to implement functional-style options that modify the behavior of the parser. To add
 // new options, just create a function (ideally beginning with With or Without) that returns an anonymous function that
 // takes a *Parser type as input and manipulates its configuration accordingly.
@@ -29,10 +27,3 @@ func WithoutClaimsValidation() ParserOption {
 		p.SkipClaimsValidation = true
 	}
 }
-
-// WithLeeway returns the ParserOption for specifying the leeway window.
-func WithLeeway(d time.Duration) ParserOption {
-	return func(p *Parser) {
-		p.validationOptions = append(p.validationOptions, withLeeway(d))
-	}
-}
diff --git a/parser_test.go b/parser_test.go
index e25ff0b2..68aa6a93 100644
--- a/parser_test.go
+++ b/parser_test.go
@@ -78,28 +78,6 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		nil,
 		jwt.SigningMethodRS256,
 	},
-	{
-		"basic expired with 60s skew",
-		"", // autogen
-		defaultKeyFunc,
-		jwt.MapClaims{"foo": "bar", "exp": float64(time.Now().Unix() - 100)},
-		false,
-		jwt.ValidationErrorExpired,
-		[]error{jwt.ErrTokenExpired},
-		jwt.NewParser(jwt.WithLeeway(time.Minute)),
-		jwt.SigningMethodRS256,
-	},
-	{
-		"basic expired with 120s skew",
-		"", // autogen
-		defaultKeyFunc,
-		jwt.MapClaims{"foo": "bar", "exp": float64(time.Now().Unix() - 100)},
-		true,
-		0,
-		nil,
-		jwt.NewParser(jwt.WithLeeway(2 * time.Minute)),
-		jwt.SigningMethodRS256,
-	},
 	{
 		"basic nbf",
 		"", // autogen
@@ -111,28 +89,6 @@ var jwtTestData = []struct {
 		nil,
 		jwt.SigningMethodRS256,
 	},
-	{
-		"basic nbf with 60s skew",
-		"", // autogen
-		defaultKeyFunc,
-		jwt.MapClaims{"foo": "bar", "nbf": float64(time.Now().Unix() + 100)},
-		false,
-		jwt.ValidationErrorNotValidYet,
-		[]error{jwt.ErrTokenNotValidYet},
-		jwt.NewParser(jwt.WithLeeway(time.Minute)),
-		jwt.SigningMethodRS256,
-	},
-	{
-		"basic nbf with 120s skew",
-		"", // autogen
-		defaultKeyFunc,
-		jwt.MapClaims{"foo": "bar", "nbf": float64(time.Now().Unix() + 100)},
-		true,
-		0,
-		nil,
-		jwt.NewParser(jwt.WithLeeway(2 * time.Minute)),
-		jwt.SigningMethodRS256,
-	},
 	{
 		"expired and nbf",
 		"", // autogen
diff --git a/validator_option.go b/validator_option.go
deleted file mode 100644
index eb29dc30..00000000
--- a/validator_option.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,29 +0,0 @@
-package jwt
-
-import "time"
-
-// validationOption is used to implement functional-style options that modify the behavior of the parser. To add
-// new options, just create a function (ideally beginning with With or Without) that returns an anonymous function that
-// takes a *validator type as input and manipulates its configuration accordingly.
-//
-// Note that this struct is (currently) un-exported, its naming is subject to change and will only be exported once
-// the API is more stable.
-type validationOption func(*validator)
-
-// validator represents options that can be used for claims validation
-//
-// Note that this struct is (currently) un-exported, its naming is subject to change and will only be exported once
-// the API is more stable.
-type validator struct {
-	leeway time.Duration // Leeway to provide when validating time values
-}
-
-// withLeeway is an option to set the clock skew (leeway) window
-//
-// Note that this function is (currently) un-exported, its naming is subject to change and will only be exported once
-// the API is more stable.
-func withLeeway(d time.Duration) validationOption {
-	return func(v *validator) {
-		v.leeway = d
-	}
-}