"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"
Righteousness Of The Scribes And Pharisees (5:20)
INTRODUCTION
- As Jesus prepares to contrast the righteousness of the kingdom with
the traditional interpretation and application of the Law, He does
so with a strong warning to those who would enter the kingdom of
heaven
- Found in Mt 5:20, Jesus warned that...
"unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes
and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven"!
[To appreciate and apply what Jesus said, it might help if we first
examined...]
- THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES
- THEY WERE KNOWN TO "SAY AND DO NOT" - Mt 23:1-4
- Though they often taught the truth, they did not often
practice what they preached!
- From them many parents got the saying "Do as I say, not as I
do"
- THEY WERE KNOWN TO DO THINGS TO BE SEEN OF MEN - Mt 23:5-7
- They enjoyed wearing religious garments that separated them
from others, and delighted in places and titles of honor
- Does this sound like any religious leaders today?
- THEY WERE KNOWN TO NEGLECT PARTS OF GOD'S LAW - Mt 23:23-24
- In their case, they would emphasize the "lighter" matters of
the law, while neglecting the "weightier" commands
- Or as we would say today, they "majored in minors and minored
in majors"
- THEY WERE KNOWN TO BE LOVERS OF MONEY - Lk 16:13-15
- "Mammon" was their god, though they would be quick to deny it
and try to justify themselves before men
- Does this sound like any "prosperity preachers" we see and
hear today?
[Such was the level of "righteousness" the scribes and Pharisees as a
group. Not all scribes and Pharisees were guilty of such things (e.g.,
Nicodemus, Jn 3:1; 7:45-52; 19:38-42).
Why must our righteousness exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees?
The righteousness of the kingdom demands more!]
- THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE KINGDOM
- WE LEARN IN THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT THAT...
- We cannot "say and do not" - Mt 7:21
- We cannot "do things to be seen of men" - Mt 6:1
- We cannot "neglect" ANY commandments of God's law - Mt 5:19
- We cannot be "lovers of money" - Mt 6:24
- THIS SHOULD SERVE AS A WARNING TO ANY WHO THINK THEY CAN BE
FAITHFUL CHRISTIANS, BUT DO NOT...
- Combine their profession of faith with suitable deeds - cf.
Jm 2:14-17; 1Jn 2:4-6; 1Jn 3:18
- Keep their personal, private lives consistent with their
public appearance and profession - cf. Mk 4:22
- Make diligent effort to observe ALL that Jesus commanded - cf.
Mt 28:20; Jn 8:31-32; 2Jn 9
- Remain free from the enticement of materialism - cf. 1Ti 6:9-10; 1Jn 2:15-17
CONCLUSION
- Without question, our righteousness as citizens of the kingdom must
exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees
- But how can our righteousness be consistent with that demanded by
our King? It is possible only by the grace of God...
- Whereby His mercy provides forgiveness to those in Christ - 1Jn
1:9
- Whereby His strength makes it possible to live according to the
"righteousness of the kingdom of heaven"! - Php 4:13
In our next study, we will begin to notice the various examples Jesus
gave as to how our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and
Pharisees...