In Matthew 5:17-19, Jesus declared that it was not His intention to destroy or abolish the Law. If Jesus destroyed the Law, it would be impossible for Him to accomplish His mission. Jesus came to carry out the promise and purpose of the Law, for only in so doing could the Law be removed without having been violated. It is like entering into a contract where each party meets the terms of the contract; this fulfills the contract. There are no more demands on either party as a result of this fulfilled contract. The contract is not destroyed, but fulfilled. In the same way, Jesus came to fulfill the Law, that we might be released from the burden of the Law (Gal. 2:13-14 & 23-29).

In verse 20, Jesus taught, “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” Can you imagine the shock this statement must have produced among the many who were listening to Jesus? They were fishermen, shepherds, shop-keepers...sinners! These folks have looked up to the Scribes and Pharisees as the best and most zealous in Israel. Now Jesus challenges them to exceed the righteousness of these experts in the Law. But Jesus is about to point out that the “righteousness” of the Scribes and Pharisees involved a particular way of looking at things. It was a point of view that would never be characteristic of kingdom citizens. It was not an issue with quantity, but of quality that Jesus would expose. Theirs was the wrong kind of righteousness.

For example, the Pharisees attitude toward righteousness is seen in their contempt for Jesus eating with Publicans and sinners (Lk. 15:2). Instead of reaching up to God’s righteousness and being humbled, they emphasized externals and conduct alone as constituting true piety. Jesus teaches that this kind of “righteousness” will not allow one to enter the kingdom.

What was the righteousness that Jesus expected of His followers? It is a righteousness of the heart. This righteousness begins at the fountainhead of thought and will, and issues from these in words and deeds (Lk. 6:43-45). It will lead kingdom citizens to pity and love those who are in sin and, like their King, it will cause them to take the gospel to the lost. It will not be an outward adornment, but an inward one, as they put on a meek and humble spirit (I Pet. 3:3-4). It is desperately dependent on God (James 4:10) and will cause them to look to themselves before being critical of others (Matt. 7:1-5). Their obedience is from a heart that is completely submissive to God (Rom. 6:17-18). The righteousness of which Jesus speaks is primarily one of life and conduct, for this is the transformed life of the kingdom citizen.

How is your heart? Who do you most resemble: the Scribe, the Pharisee or the Christ?

Bill Feist