Surpassing Righteousness
Matt. 5:17-48
Introduction:
In the beginning verses of Matt. 5, Jesus is preaching to the multitude and is sharing revolutionary thoughts. He has taught them how to be blessed by God by changing from the inside out. He has told them how to establish a relationship with God and with others through positive heartfelt service. No doubt many in his audience, particulary the Pharisees, were wondering how these teachings fit into the Law of Moses. Jesus will deal with that issue in the remainder of this chapter.
I. My purpose in coming.
A. Not to abolish the Law or the Prophets. (Vs. 17)
1 KATALUO = To destroy utterly, to overthrow completely.
2 Law = Law of Moses
3 Prophets = The remainder of the Old Testament.
The Pharisees would accuse Jesus of trying to abolish the Law. Illustration: John 5:8-9, 16-18. Jesus “broke” the Law by healing the paralytic on the Sabbath (a part of the Law)
B. But to fulfill the Law and the Prophets.(Vs. 17-19)
1. The Law is absolute and unchangeable. (Vs. 18)
a. “Jot” (IOTA) is the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet.
b. “Tittle” (KERAIA) is the smallest accent mark in the Hebrew alphabet.
c. “...until all is accomplished.”
(1) Until prophecy is fulfilled
Luke 24:44... “...all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the Law of Moses, and in the Prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.”
(2) Until the Law’s demands are fully kept.
C. The relationship between the Law and the Kingdom.
Man’s position in the kingdom will be in direct correlation with his respect for God’s Law. No command is unimportant.
1. Those who annul will be least in the kingdom.
(Matt. 15:1-9)
2. Those who keep will be great (honored) in the kingdom.
II. Requirements for entering the kingdom. (Matt. 5:20)
The Scribes and Pharisees had a righteousness that was external, ceremonial, ritualistic, and formal, with little or no attention paid to the condition of the heart. To enter the kingdom, one must have a “Surpassing Righteousness.” This is a righteousness that includes a right heart, not just right actions. Jesus then proceeds to illustrate the principle he has just presented.
SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS:
A. An absence of hate. (Matt. 5:21-26)
1. Matt. 5:21 quotes Ex. 20:13, the fifth commandment.
2. The righteousness of the Pharisees would exclude the act of murder but not the condition of the heart that leads to murder.
3. Hate is the source of killing.
Clarence Darrow... “Everyone is a potential murderer. I have not killed anyone but I frequently get satisfaction out of obituary notices.”
4. Jesus calls on us to resist the beginnings of hate. (Matt. 5:22)
a. Anger...Basic anger... “short madness”
“guilty before the court”.
b. Raca... Insulting words. “empty headed, good for nothing”...Guilty before the supreme court.
c. Fool...Accusing someone of being ungodly or immoral. Judgmental or contemptuous. Guilty enough to go to hell
5. Acceptable worship is impossible when hate exists between brethren. (Matt. 5:23:24)
“So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you, Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood.” (Isa. 1:15)
6. Make peace NOW. (Matt. 5:25-26)
Hate is at the root of murder. Hate is murder in our heart. Surpassing righteousness excludes not only murder but the hate that leads to murder.
B. An absence of lust. (Matt. 5:27-30)
1. Matt. 5:27 quotes Ex. 20:14, the seventh commandment.
2. The righteousness of the Pharisees would exclude the act of adultery but not the condition of the heart that leads to adultery.
3. “Look...to lust”...To stare at someone with a desire (lust) in the heart to commit adultery with that person. Jesus addresses the lust of a man toward a woman, but that knife cuts both ways.
4. The seriousness of the problem is seen in the action that Jesus calls for.
a. Better not to see than to sin.
b. Better not to have a hand than to touch sin.
Jesus is speaking metaphorically. Jesus wants us to remove lust from our heart. The idea is that we should take whatever action is necessary to guard ourselves from lust.
Surpassing righteousness then is not only a life free of adultery but a heart free of lust.
C. Faithfulness in marriage. (Matt. 5:31-32)
1. Matt. 5:31 quotes Deut. 24:1
“When a man takes a wife and marries her, and it happens that she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found some indecency in her, and he writes her a certificate of divorce and puts it in her hand and sends her out from his house,...”
2. The Pharisees exaggerated the exception of “indecency.”
3. The righteousness of the Pharisees is to divorce a mate “according to the Law.”
4. God hates divorce. Mal. 2:14-16.
5. Divorce is ALLOWED by Jesus for the cause of adultery, but it is NEVER encouraged.
Surpassing righteousness then is not just getting a divorce for the right reason, but a faithfulness to the marriage vows that eliminate the need for divorce. Surpassing righteousness is a love from the heart that covers a multitude of sins.
D. Truthfulness that cannot be questioned. (Matt. 5:33-37)
1. Matt. 5:33 quotes Lev. 19:12, “...You shall not swear falsely by My Name...” and Deut. 23:21, “When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it...”
2. The righteousness of the Pharisees permits lying as long as you are not under oath.
3. Jesus prohibits oaths as a tool to hide a deceitful heart.
4. Jesus requires not only a truthful mouth but a truthful heart.
Surpassing righteousness then is not only being truthful under oath but a truthfulness that eliminates the need for an oath.
E. Negative retribution and positive submission. (Matt. 5:38-42)
Matt. 5:38 quotes Ex. 21:24-25
1. The righteousness of the Pharisee permits retribution for a wrong suffered.
2. Jesus teaches negative retribution. (Matt. 5:39a)
3. And positive submission. (Matt. 5:39a-42)
a. In reference to violence perpetrated. (Matt. 5:39b)
b. In reference to property lost. (Matt. 5:40)
c. In reference to servitude demanded. (Matt. 5:41)
d. In reference to charity asked. (Matt. 5:42)
Surpassing righteousness is not only an absence of retribution or grudging external subservience, but a positive loving heart that desires to do good even to those who persecute us.
F. Loving our enemies. (Matt. 5:43-47)
Matt. 5:43 quotes Lev. 19:18
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
And Deut. 23:3-6.
“And hate your enemy.” (Gentiles)
1. The righteousness of the Pharisees placed limits on love.
2. Jesus taught and demonstrated unconditional love.
a. John 3:16
b. Rom. 5:6,8,10
Surpassing righteousness then is more than loving those who love us, but a sacrificial love from the heart EVEN for you enemies.
G. Being Perfect. (Matt. 5:48)
Perfect = Moral and spiritual maturity or completeness.
Jesus is not talking about sinless perfection.
SURPASSING RIGHTEOUS IS:
1. Not just refraining from murder but removing hate from our heart that can lead to murder.
2. Not just refraining from adultery but removing lust from our heart that can lead to adultery.
3. Not just divorcing as permitted by the Law, but having a faithfulness to the marriage vow and a heartfelt love for one another that eliminates any consideration of divorce.
4. Not just being truthful under oath but have a truthfulness that eliminates the need for an oath.
5. Not just external subservience that degrades and dishonors both ourselves and God but a positive submission that will bring glory to God.
6. Not just loving those who love us, but having a sacrificial love from the heart even for our enemies.
Conclusion:
Surpassing righteousness then is an obedience to God’s Law that is not just external but comes from a deep love and commitment to God from the heart. Only when we obey from the heart can we expect our righteousness to surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees. Only when we obey from the heart can we expect to gain entrance into God’s kingdom.
