Sermons on San Mateo 5:20:

Called Into Righteousness

Contributed by Matthew Kratz on Mar 21, 2025

1) The Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees 2) The Righteousness God Requires, and finally, 3) The Righteousness God Gives.

Although we will just focus on Matthew 5:20, in Matthew 5, beginning in verse 17, Jesus explained God’s standard of Righteousness as embodied by the law of God. He said: Matthew 5:17-20.17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20

Denomination: Other

Be Ye Separate

Contributed by Phillip Smith on May 4, 2024

Christians are to be readily recognizable. They are to be seperate from worldly persons. However, it is most difficult to identify one in a crowd in the modern world. Why?

In western culture and its influence upon all the rest of mankind, depicting Christians from the rest of the world is most difficult today. The only differences we see come from diverse groups who outwardly show differences in their dress and chosen culture. Outward differences among all others are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:13-16, 1 Peter 1:15-16, Matthew 5:20, 2 Corinthians 6:15-18, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-12, Colossians 4:6  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Anger And Reconciliation.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Jun 6, 2024

The universal law against murder.

ANGER AND RECONCILIATION. Matthew 5:20-26. MATTHEW 5:20. The disciples were warned that if their righteousness does not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, then they will not enter into the kingdom of heaven! This is emphatic. Mere outward conformity will never suffice (cf. 1 Samuel ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20-26

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

The Retribution Of God And Combatting Injustice – The Christian Position On Retribution: What Do We Do? - Part 5 Series

Contributed by Ron Ferguson on Oct 13, 2023

Where do we cross the line from the legitimate to the revengeful? This is one of the most difficult areas of our Christian lives personally to evaluate. Does any form of vengeance or retribution lie with us? Let us consider the Lord, Stephen and Paul. I have been there.

THE RETRIBUTION OF GOD AND COMBATTING INJUSTICE – THE CHRISTIAN POSITION ON RETRIBUTION: WHAT DO WE DO? - PART 5 [A]. THE CHRISTIAN POSITION ON VENGEANCE AND INJUSTICE Having looked at various examples from the Old Testament and drawing certain conclusions from them, we now turn the spotlight ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:6-43, 1 Peter 2:22-24, Luke 23:34, Acts 7:59-60, Leviticus 19:18, 2 Timothy 4:14, Psalm 22:24, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:12, Romans 12:17-21  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Jesus Endorses The Law

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Nov 26, 2023

When Jesus endorsed the law, and said that we are to be more righteous than the Pharisees, did He mean that we are to keep all 613 Old Testament commandments more rigidly, or in a completely different manner? Let's find out in Matthew 5.

Jesus condemned whoever sets aside the least of God’s commands. Does that mean that all 613 Old Testament commandments are still in force, like circumcision, Sabbaths and sacrifices? Let’s examine salt, light and the law in Matthew 5:13-20. Salt & Light What are Christ’s disciples? You are ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20

Denomination: Baptist

The Greater Righteousness - Matthew 5:20-21 Series

Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 3, 2024

How can Jesus say anger is equivalent to murder? Killing a human being has such greater consequences and is so much more extreme. This message will show how the two sins have the same DNA and will expose how even our best efforts to obey God’s Word can degenerate into legalism.

Matthew 5:19-26 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. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20-21

More Righteous Series

Contributed by Jeff Strite on Aug 16, 2024

Why would Jesus seemingly praise the Pharisees saying our righteousness should exceed theirs? Why would I need to compare my righteousness to that of men that Jesus despised?

A man was telling about being a student at the University of Southern California, and he and his friends worked hard to earn their PhDs, because they wanted to be would allowed to hold the coveted title of “doctor”. Then, one day one of their professors told about a friend of his who’d called his ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:20-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Responsibility For Our Own Sins And Crimes Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Feb 23, 2024

We must learn from scripture that not only individuals, but whole societies, risk destruction and death when we/they ignore the Law of God.

Friday of the First Full Week in Lent 2024 “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked,” says the Lord GOD, “and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” Those are the words of God reported to us by the prophet Ezekiel, off in Babylonian exile with the elite of Israel. His ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 130:1-8, Matthew 5:20-26, Ezekiel 18:21-28, 1 Kings 11:8, Jeremiah 15:4  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Matthew 5 (8/27/2017) Series

Contributed by Pastor C Burns on Aug 17, 2022

Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5

Matthew 5:13-14 (Jesus Teaches about Salt and Light) If a seasoning has no flavor, it has no value. If Christians make no effort to affect the world around them, they are of little value to God. If we are too much like the world, we are worthless. Christians should not blend in with everyone ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-48

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Don't Even Think It Series

Contributed by Steve Malone on Nov 1, 2022

In this conversation we will dive down deep into the relationship that Jesus has with the Law.

Do Not Even Think It Matthew 5:17-20 OKAY – let’s do this… We are in week 18 of our chapter by chapter, verse by verse study of the Gospel of Matthew. YOU KNOW – I cannot think of a better conversation for us to have, AS WE - gather as a church body, than to talk about Our King and about The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Righteousness Plus Series

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Nov 24, 2022

The law has a purpose beyond itself. The law is a tool to form a people for God.

Judicial philosophy is much in the news right now. And underlying the debates – in addition to some very important policy issues - are some very fundamental questions. Who makes the law? Where does law come from? What is law for? What can law do? What role should religion play in the formation of ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Salt, Light, And Righteousness.

Contributed by Christopher Holdsworth on Dec 4, 2022

Our righteousness is in Him.

SALT, LIGHT, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS. Matthew 5:13-20. I). SALT AND LIGHT. Matthew 5:13-16. The metaphors of salt and light follow immediately after Jesus’ profile of the blessed Christian. The meek shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5) because meekness is not weakness, but quite the contrary. The ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Exceeding Expectations Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Jun 16, 2023

Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. This means that He wants us to exceed the spiritual expectations prescribed by the Law; as we are to strive for excellence in our walk with God.

I have entitled our message, “Exceeding Expectations,” and I want to begin by sharing a true story. A contractor in Mexico was hired to build a Catholic Church, but he used cheap materials in order to make more money. He reasoned that the quality of the materials did not matter, so long as the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-22

Denomination: Baptist

The Conduct Of The Follower Of Christ Regarding The Law – Introduction Series

Contributed by Guy Glass on Jul 3, 2023

This message continues the Sermon on the Mount series. Jesus is in these verses defining the Law and His fulfillment of it. In this message you should see the relevance of the Law, our responsibility towards the fulfilled Law, and what our response should be to that.

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT THE CONDUCT OF THE FOLLOWER OF CHRIST REGARDING THE LAW – INTRODUCTION MATTHEW 5:17–20 “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. 18I TELL YOU THE TRUTH, UNTIL HEAVEN AND EARTH DISAPPEAR, NOT THE ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:17-20

Denomination: Baptist

Light The Way Youth Sermon

Contributed by Youth Sermons on Sep 5, 2023

As followers of Jesus, we are called to be the salt and light of the world, guiding others towards God's love and salvation through our words and actions.

Hey everyone! Today, we're going to talk about something super important, and I've got a cool object lesson to help us understand it better. But first, let me ask you a question: Have you ever been lost? Like, really lost? Maybe you were at the mall, or on a hike, or just wandering around a new ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:13-20

Topics: Spiritual Influence, Moral Guidance, Divine Purpose, Faithful Living