The Greater Righteousness - Matthew 5:20-21 Series

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 surpasses that of the Pharisees and the Scribes, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 "Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Introduction

In May of 1931, the city of New York, witnessed the capture of one of the most dangerous criminals that that city had known until that time. He was known as Two-gun Crowley. Two-gun Crowley they said would kill at the drop of a hat; he brutally murdered many people, including police. They finally caught up to him in his girlfriend's apartment, and after a long gun battle involving at least a hundred policemen, they captured him. And when they finally got him, they found a bloodstained note that he had written. "Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one, one that would do nobody any harm." He thought he was basically a nice guy even though he was a mass-murderer. When people come to me for counseling there is a form we have them fill out and one of the questions is, “Tell me about yourself – what sort of person are you?” And almost every person who fills that out says, “I’m basically a good person.” No matter how severe their problems are, or how immersed they are in sin; they feel that deep down they are basically good. The idea that at the core we are basically good and righteous is one of the most commonly believed lies the devil tells. We are all eager to fall for that one.

But it is a deadly lie. The reason Satan tells it is because he knows that if we fall for it, we cannot be saved. The incredible, fantastic news that God offers us a greater righteousness – a righteousness that is acceptable and pleasing to God – that amazing news is worthless to us until we realize how much we need that righteousness. As long as we think we are basically good and we have a pretty good righteousness already, the offer of a greater righteousness is no big deal. And so in His infinite love Jesus is going to do some painful surgery, and cut out of us that cancerous lie that convinces us that we are basically righteous.

The first word in verse 20 is for. That is a word that means, “Let me explain what I just said.” What did He just say? Well, in the previous verse (19) He talked about breaking the law and keeping the law. Those are the two possible responses when God gives a command. Then Jesus says, “Let me explain…” So the purpose of what follows is for Jesus to explain what it means to obey or disobey God’s Law.

The Inadequate Righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees

And He starts out that section with a very provocative statement.

Matthew 5:20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the Scribes, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

That is provocative because the Pharisees and Scribes were thought to be the most righteous human beings on the planet. According to John MacArthur there was even a saying back then: “If only two people make it to heaven, one will be a Scribe and the other a Pharisee.”

The Scribes were the scholars, who studied every detail of the Law. And the Pharisees were a sect who endeavored to follow every command in the Bible. These people were law-keeping fanatics. The Scribes probably had the entire Old Testament memorized. By all appearances, no one on the planet took the Law of God more seriously than the Scribes and Pharisees. They were so careful about following the tithe law that they would tithe their mint, dill, and cummin (Mt.23:23). They would take their little plants and spices and seeds and count out – “Nine for me, one for God…”