Understanding the Kingdom - Part 5
3-25-01
INTRODUCTION
In Jr. High, as part of my school’s track and field team, it was tough for me to find a field event. I tried them all, except pole vault (only b/c I couldn’t get in the air). No good at any of them. I could run at one speed for a long time, but that didn’t necessarily translate into jumping, leaping, throwing or vaulting. One event in particular I remember trying was the high jump.
Right after I cleared one height, they’d raise the bar. That and pole vault are the only events I know where even the winners end in failure.
The world high jump record is 2.45 meters (that’s 8 feet ½ inch). That’s the greatest height anyone has ever cleared with their body. One person has done it once in 1993 – hasn’t done it again. It is the standard by which all great jumps are measured. If a jump doesn’t meet or exceed that height, it falls short of being the best that was ever done.
The Pharisees in Jesus’ day were almost universally respected for their righteous attention to the laws of God. They were, in a sense, “world record holders at law keeping.” Their righteousness was the standard by which everyone else was judged.
READ MATTHEW 5:20
20For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Surpass means to go way beyond.
Jesus says, “If you want to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, your righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees by a lot.”
What you think is a world record isn’t near good enough for God. What you’ve been told is flawless is full of holes. What looks like perfection is actually repugnant to the Father.
How? People might have wondered. These guys hold the record! It’s just not possible. But Jesus looked at their record and said, “It’s not sufficient.” Then he raised the bar.
Jesus looked at the righteousness of those considered to be very religious in His day, and He raised the bar to a level most would have considered impossible.
That must have been a shocking statement to those who heard it. Jesus, you’ve been telling us we’re in. That God approves of and blesses people like us – the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek. Now you’re telling us this? We can’t be better lawkeepers than the Pharisees. That’s impossible. We’ll never get in!
TRANSITION:
To understand what Jesus meant by raising the righteousness bar, let’s look at:
Jesus’ view of God’s rules
How He wants us to treat those rules too.
First, how did Jesus treat God’s rules?
I. HOW JESUS TREATED GOD’S RULES
From a counter-cultural leader you might very well expect change. You might anticipate that the leader would want to do away with the previously accepted rules. And say, “Those things no longer apply. We’re going to create our own rules.” That’s what you might expect from a counter-cultural figure.
So the question for many concerning Jesus was this: “Where does this revolutionary stand on the issue of God’s rules?” Jesus knew people wondered this, so he said…
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (v. 17)
Abolish is a strong word – means to completely throw out. Jesus implies, “I know what you’re thinking. But my mission doesn’t include throwing away the Old Testament Scriptures – that is the Law or the Prophets.
People on the mountain must have thought, “What? You’ve just challenged everything we believe to be true. Sounds like that IS what you came to do!”
Jesus came to usher in an upside down Kingdom, for sure, but that didn’t have to mean breaking, changing, or doing away with God’s rules for living. He challenged their presuppositions but held fast to God’s principles. Principles that were being overlooked and misunderstood.
He says, “I didn’t come to abolish God’s laws and prophets, but to fulfill them.”
Jesus fulfilled every predictive prophecy about the coming Messiah, he fulfilled the doctrinal teaching of the OT, especially concerning the doctrine of God, and he fulfills the ethical precepts of the law – not the least of which is the OT sacrificial system where He himself became the sacrifice for our sins when He died on the cross. Jesus’ mission was to fulfill the law and the prophets in a rich diversity of ways.
In particular, here are…
Three things Jesus says about God’s rules:
They’re Permanent
They won’t disappear (v. 18)
“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.” (v. 18)
Unchanging
Jesus said not even the least stroke of a pen will be changed. He’s literally talking about serifs – the tails on the letters. Some type styles have feet on the letters – those are serifs and some don’t - the are called sans serifs. Jesus says God’s rules are so unchanging that even the serifs won’t be taken away.
Relevant
God’s rules should be practiced and taught. (v. 19)
“Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 19)
He himself quoted Scripture often. He himself kept the Law flawlessly.
How’s that for a statement of where Jesus stands on the issue of God’s rules. Pretty clear, huh?
Jesus expects total devotion to God’s rules – Because He’s fulfilled them all – every principle is still valid.
Ironically he was put to death on the charge of supposedly breaking God’s rules. The very rules He himself made and kept flawlessly – for these he was put to death.
TRANSITION: Well, that’s how Jesus treated the law, but to understand why he’s raising the righteousness bar so high, we have to look at…
II. HOW JESUS WANTS US TO TREAT GOD’S RULES
How does He want us to treat God’s rules?
Quite simply…
He wants a righteousness of the heart, not just external devotion.
Again, Matthew 5:20…
“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (v. 20)
Pharisees identified 613 rules in the OT Scriptures
248 commands to do something
365 prohibitions
They aspired to keep them all flawlessly. If anyone would be considered really, really righteous, you’d have to figure it would be them.
And still, Jesus still raised the bar. Their kind of righteousness just wasn’t good enough.
In the rest of Matthew 5 Jesus points out how this is true:
Beginning with v. 21, Jesus talks about anger. A Pharisee would never dream of pulling the trigger of a gun to kill someone – there’s a rule against that- but they’d still be happy to destroy a person’s dignity with their words.
At v. 27, Jesus talks about adultery. These guys would never have an affair – again God has a rule against that - but they wouldn’t think twice about viewing online pornography for the purpose of sexual self-gratification.
At v. 31, Jesus talks about adultery again, in a different way. Again, these guys weren’t about to cheat on their spouses by sleeping with someone else – that’s clearly breaking God’s rules – but, they would use divorce to satisfy their lustful desire to marry someone else. Once they became physically attracted to someone else, they were quick to find a reason to divorce their spouse and get re-married so they could start sleeping with this new lover. They’d say, “Technically, you can do that to avoid committing adultery.” In a few weeks, we’ll see what Jesus says.
At v. 38, Jesus talks about retaliation. These Pharisees would never pay back evil done to them with a greater evil, but they’d be more than happy to find a way to exactly get even. After all, eye for eye and tooth for tooth.
The Pharisees knew the rules but didn’t know God. In their attempt to be letter perfect, they cared little for greater principles that stood behind God’s rules. Jesus once said these guys would strain out a gnat and swallow a camel (Mt. 23:24). Jesus says to us, “Don’t be like them. Your righteousness has to far exceed this sorry display.”
The Pharisees may sound a little comical to us. Who could be that worried about the rules that they miss what God really wants? It’s funny until we realize we may be doing some of the same things with the rules:
We know God commands worship – so we go to church once a week but avoid making worship a daily lifestyle
A Christian single may make a commitment to remain a virgin until marriage – one of God’s rules – but then engage in every kind of sexual activity short of actual intercourse
Christian parents may take great pains to keep their children’s minds and hearts pure – but after the kids go to bed…
We may want to practice good stewardship, so we’ll tithe to the penny – and not a penny more – to obey that rule while missing the point of generous giving out of a cheerful heart.
A Christian may refuse to lie – that’s wrong – but then she’ll be intentionally misleading by not giving direct answers. And say, “But I never lied!”
We may want to give up a sin or bad habit for lent – but first get as much of it as we can on Fat Tuesday.
These are all attitudes of a Pharisee. A person who is more interested in keeping rules than loving God.
Externally it looks pretty good. Technically the rules never get broken. From what we hear Jesus saying here, I would tell you, if you want to live like this, Good luck! Maybe you can keep up the appearance of obeying the rules. But you’ll never clear the bar. Because to be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven, Jesus says you and I need a greater righteousness. How can we do that?
We need to exceed their righteousness in kind rather than degree. To show a different brand of righteousness.
Let me give you three ways we can display this greater righteousness:
1. Receive it from God
Romans 3:21-22f – “But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known…This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”
Philippians 3:8 – “…not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ – the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.”
Paul called his own righteousness filthy rags – that’s just a polite way of saying used toilet paper. That’s how much his own righteousness was worth.
When Jesus comes into our lives, God gives us this righteousness. That’s why Jesus died on the cross for you. In His incredible love, he being perfect, died for you and me who are imperfect. The Bible in Romans 8:3-4 tells us that God sent Jesus to die for us so that in him the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us.
This great righteousness of the heart is only possible in those who are born again. You and I cannot clear the bar unless we are willing to be born again – to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.
2. Step out of the spotlight
We can’t be looking around for approval or recognition from others.
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 6:1)
When we follow the rules, it’s not for us to be elevated, it’s for God to be exalted. Let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
3. Become a lover of God rather than a keeper of rules
This is the work of the Holy Spirit within you
The Pharisees were keepers of rules more than they were lovers of God.
When we truly love God, we’re more interested in pleasing him than just externally giving attention to His rules. But we do keep his rules b/c we love Him.
Sort of like in the church. We’re a family, so we operate on relationship not rules.
TRANSITION: Jesus says God’s rules are important. Important for him and important for us. But an external display of conformance – even if it is world record conformance - lacks the depth of love for God that is characteristic of those in the Kingdom of Heaven. External conformance will never clear the righteousness bar. Only Jesus can clear it – and He wants to give you his righteousness – because He loves you.
WRAP-UP
Can you clear the bar? No!
Will you let Jesus help you clear the bar?
Right now…
______ I am ready to let Jesus help me clear the bar
______ I am not yet convinced that the bar exists
______ I am just going to hope I can clear the bar on my own
______ Other…
