Genuine Righteousness

Introduction

I would like to open up today's sermon by reading Matthew 5:17-20 together.

17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Last week we took a deep dive into some waters that are not often explored, especially from the pulpit. Having just a few weeks ago studied about the death and resurrection of Jesus, last week we got to see why Jesus had to die, and why it had to be a violent death upon a cross.

It all has to do with one of the key characteristics of God which is holiness. Because of God's holiness, there were commandments and laws given so that mankind could walk with Him and have fellowship.

Adam and Eve walked and talked with God as they obeyed His commandments, but the day that they disobeyed God, sin entered into the world and a curse was brought along with it. The Bible clearly tells us that sin is the transgression of the laws of God. Sin is anything that we do or say, or any attitude we have that goes contrary to God.

Because of Adam's sin, sin entered the world and passed to every person since then. Because we are all ultimately descendants of Adam and Eve, sin has passed onto us as well, and will continue to pass on to every person.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Because of this, man's very nature has become corrupted and death, the penalty for sin, has passed onto all men. We are, all of us, born into sin because we are all descendants of Adam.

And here is where we see the importance of the need for Jesus' virgin birth. The prophecies of the Old Testament and the announcement to Mary by the angel said that Mary, a virgin, would conceive and bare a son. This is why the concept of the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus is so crucial to our faith, for if Jesus had been conceived of a woman and a man, then Jesus would have had a sin nature. However, since Jesus had no human father, He was born without that sin nature. Again, this was prophesied first by the God Himself, as he spoke to Adam and Eve after their fall, and later by the prophet Isaiah.

So Jesus, God in the flesh, his human body being conceived by the work of the Holy Spirit, possessed no sinful nature. Because he is 100% God, could not sin, but took upon himself the penalty of death for sin by willingly suffering death upon a cross. He made provision for sin to be forgiven by shedding his blood, because without the shedding of blood sins cannot be paid for. Then, thirdly, by dying upon a cross, he also took upon himself a curse, so that those that were forgiven could be free of the curse of sin.

All this was necessary because of the law that God had given. Though the Father offers forgiveness to mankind freely as a gift, that gift was paid for dearly by Jesus Christ. It had to be, otherwise forgiveness for sins could not be offered.

We saw that in this way, Jesus fulfilled the law. He fulfilled the judicial law of the nation of Israel by following each of the mandates that were put in place by God so that Israel could be a distinct country, separated from the pagan nations that surrounded them and their pagan practices.

Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law by being the lamb of God that was sacrificed for the sins of the world.

And Jesus fulfilled the moral law by keeping every one of the commandments not only in practice but in spirit as well.

He told those that were listening to him preach his Sermon on the Mount that he had come to fulfill the law, not to destroy it, and that is what he did. What was Jesus' relationship to the law and the prophets of the Old Testament? He regarded them as the word of God, he loved them, and by no means was opposed to them.

Jesus then tells us in verse 19 that even the least commandment is of the utmost importance. The book of James expounds on this when it says, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10)

Jesus is highly concerned with the law, even the smallest commandments.

This brings us to an interesting point. There are greater and lesser commandments. When asked by a scribe what the greatest commandment was, Jesus did not answer, "All commandments carry the same weight." He answered, "The greatest commandment is this: love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself." There is meaning and distinction between the least and the greatest commandments, and what Jesus is saying in verse 19 is that we need to do and teach all the commandments.

This is when Jesus thoughts turn to the Pharisees and the Scribes, the experts of the law of Moses. You could not have a conversation of the law in those days without bringing the teachings of the Pharisees and the Scribes into that conversation.

But what Jesus has to say about them is not flattering. In fact, as he had just let everyone know that his teachings were all in accordance with the Old Testament writings, he now proceeds to announce that the teachings and practices of these so-called "holy men" were directly opposed to the law and the prophets of the Old Testament.

What Is Holiness?

Before we continue, I would like to point out that there is a Biblical doctrine concerning holiness. Teaching on holiness is often confused and twisted because the principal of Jesus' relationship to the law is not taken into account. Again, this doctrine of holiness is something that we could spend many weeks on diving deep and looking into the details of it all, but I would like to just give us a general view of it today.

First off, holiness is not simply an experience that we have. Holiness means keeping and fulfilling the law of God. And whatever you do, if you just heard that last statement, DO NOT TURN ME OFF RIGHT NOW! Keep paying attention, because there is more to it than just obeying the law, and that is what we will be discussing today.

Though experiences may help us to obey the law, holiness, sanctification, or righteous living is something we experience in our daily life; its not a once and done thing. It is the honoring and keeping of the law in the same way that Jesus honored and kept the law while he was here. Holiness is being like Jesus.

The Unrighteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees

So Jesus points out the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees in verse 20 in the form of a criticism.

20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus, in essence, is saying, "Don't think that I am here to make shortcuts. I am not here to reduce the demands of the law and make things easier; I am here to tell you that if you do not follow the law even more closely than the Pharisees and Scribes do, you cannot enter into God's kingdom."

As a certain famous hero's sidekick might've said, "Holy sanctification, Batman! If we must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees to be a part of the kingdom of heaven, who could possibly enter into God's kingdom?"

But Jesus is able to very clearly show that these men lacked true righteousness because they misinterpreted the law.

I want you to remember, the Pharisees and Scribes were some of the most outstanding men in the religious sense. Scribes spent all their time teaching and expounding the law of Moses as well as copying the scriptures very meticulously. Their whole life revolved around the law and the prophets, and people looked up to them with good reason.

The Pharisees were something else as well. The word Pharisee means "separatist." These men set themselves apart from others by following a code that they had formed. This code was connected heavily to the ceremonial acts of the law and was more rigid than even the law given to Moses in Exodus and Leviticus.

We discussed this back in July and August at the beginning of the series. We made a point to see that the Pharisees viewed these traditions in a higher standing than the law itself. For example, one of the things we will see about the practice of the Pharisees was their adherence to fasting. The law commanded the people to fast once a year at a specific time. As the Pharisees expanded their traditions and regulations to appear more holy, they began teaching that people should fast twice a week. This is adding a 10,400% increase to the demand of the law that God had given Israel!

The average person sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to Jesus' words would have began to wonder, "If the Pharisees keep the law in such a way that they go above and beyond what God has commanded by that percentage and they aren't good enough, what hope do we have of ever making it?"

This now becomes one of the most vital things that we should be considering. To see what holiness in Christians should look like, we first have to see why Jesus criticized the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees.

The Religion of the Pharisees

There are four charges that Jesus brings against the Pharisees' practices, and we will look at those things individually this morning.

As we study through the life of Jesus Christ through the Gospels, you will find that Jesus often talks about the scribes and the Pharisees, and it is never in a good way. It always is in criticism for something that they are doing wrong. The reason he constantly points these things out is because the common people depended on these men and their teachings so much. These were the experts of interpreting Scripture, and so Jesus takes it upon himself to set their misinterpretations straight.

There is a single passage that conveys the attitude of the Pharisee better than any other passage, and we find it in Luke 18:9-14 I will ask you to turn there with me and as we continue our study this morning, keep a finger there because we will reference it several times today.

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man [the publican] went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The Pharisee takes a prominent place as he prays, and he begins to say certain things about himself: he is not an extortioner, or unjust, or an adulterer. He was a tither, fiving to the temple a tenth of everything he gained, this would have included the increases of his private herb gardens as well. He also fasted twice a week. All these things were true of him. Jesus doesn't say that the Pharisee is a liar; he agrees that these things are true. The pharisee didn't just say it, he lived it. But the attitude of the Pharisee is that he is more than, above, worthier than the publican who was an extortioner and a thief.

And Jesus says that the publican, considered by all, including that same publican, to be the most sinful of people, walked away justified in his prayer, and the Pharisee did not. Why?

Because the Pharisee was a hypocrite. Both the Pharisees and the Scribes were denounced by Jesus as being hypocrites.

The first charge that Jesus has against the Pharisees is that their religion was entirely formal and external rather than being a religion of the heart. Luke 16:14-15 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

They were concerned with how others looked at them and not how God looked at them, and Jesus says that the things that men highly esteem are the things that make God sick.

In Matthew 23 Jesus tells the Pharisees that they are like whitewashed sepulchers, or tombs - pretty on the outside but inside their hearts there was nothing but death and rot.

And this is what Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:20 - If our righteousness is only skin deep and does not extend from the heart, then we cannot enter the kingdom of heaven. The kingdom of God is concerned primarily with the heart, not with external actions. What I am on the inside is of the utmost importance.

I have included a quote in the notes by a man named Alfred Whitehead. Though his thoughts on God were quite a bit askew, he di make a profound statement regarding religion. "Religion is that which a man does with his own solitude." In other words, if you want to know what you really are, examine your times alone. What thoughts do you entertain when you are alone; what imaginations and desires does your heart pursue? The things that are within proclaim what we really are. And this is the charge laid against the Pharisees.

Secondly, Jesus tells the Pharisees that they are more concerned with the ceremonial law than with the moral law.

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cumin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

God, on the other hand, is concerned more about the moral law than the ceremonial. This teaching is found all throughout the Old Testament, but probably nowhere so clear as when the prophet Samuel rebukes King Saul when he tells him that God said, "To obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken better than the fat of rams [referring to burnt offerings]."

A couple of generations later, Solomon would pen Proverbs 21:3 To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

The Pharisees were careful about the smallest things, like how many times they washed their hands before eating or tithing even from their personal gardens, but were not careful about the moral aspects of the law.

There is a type of religious observance that, unfortunately, is very prevalent among modern Christianity. The driving attitude is this: "If I go to church Sunday morning, then I am good. Why should I go on Wednesday night? Why should I join a Bible study? Why should I participate in a Life Group or a Home group and discuss application? I don't need accountability; I don't need to grow anymore. I've done my duty; I showed up. I checked the box; now I can do whatever I want. I'm good."

This is the attitude of a Pharisee. The Pharisee was very happy as long as he had done his external duty. But if you continue reading Matthew 23, in verse 25 you see that Jesus is laying out for all to see their greed and the subtle ways in which they extort others.

But Jesus calls us to more than than.

The third charge Jesus lays against the Pharisees is that their religion was one characterized by man-made rules and regulations. Though they laid these rules upon all whom they taught, the Pharisees themselves gave themselves excuses so as to not comply even with their own regulations, and often times with the moral law itself. One of the things that the Pharisees were accused of doing by Jesus was skipping out on their responsibilities as the caretakers for their elderly parents. What money should have gone toward expenses of caring for aging parents, the Pharisees would make a vow to give it to the Temple or dedicate it for the Lord's service. They would then retain this money, having set conditions on which the vow would be fulfilled, and then not provide for their parents because that money was already "allotted to the work of the Lord."

They rationalized and explained their sins away, but this is also a far too common occurrence among so-called Christians. It is far too common of an occurrence to hear people justify why they lost their temper, why they spoke to someone bitterly, why they won't forgive, why they don't read their Bible, why they don't pray, why they don't come to church, why they feel entitled to be offended, why they don't reach out to others, why they get defensive, etc. And now not only do I hear it, but everyone can because now so many people post their little offences all over Facebook and Instagram too.

Their is no meekness. No teachable spirit. This was typical of the Pharisee.

The last charge that we will cover that Jesus brings against the Pharisees is that they were primarily concerned with themselves. They only cared about their own self-righteousness. This introspective focus led to them to be self-satisfied. This is the opposite of the Beatitude of hungering and thirsting after righteousness. They full have no want for a meal. They were full of their own self-righteousness.

The ultimate goal of the Pharisee was not to bring glory to God, but to glorify himself. Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

This is readily seen in the picture of the Pharisee and the publican praying in the temple. The Pharisee goes in prayer before almighty, thrice-holy God and does nothing but praise himself.

It is an insult to God. There was no worship there except for self-worship. The Pharisee had a certain standard that he had set for himself, had lived up to that standard, and was therefore self-satisfied.

And isn't that easy for us to do as well? We see others living ungodly lives and become self-satisfied that "at least we aren't as bad as they are..." The trouble with this Pharisaical view of life is that we never look at ourselves through the eyes of God. We never remind ourselves about the character and nature of God. We have selected a few "important" things out of the Bible, and we follow those, and as long as we can check off the boxes everyday, we are self-satisfied instead of hungry for more Jesus.

The Christian person is one who exemplifies the Beatitudes. He is poor in spirit and mournful over sin. He is meek, teachable, and not defensive. He is merciful. He is not satisfied with his own righteousness, but hungers and thirsts after the righteousness of God seeking to be more like Jesus everyday.

In Matthew 23:23 once again Jesus brings up to the Pharisees that they disregard the weightier parts of the moral law to focus on the lesser parts of the ceremonial law. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

And the weightiest of the commandments, the first in order of precedence and importance, we find in Mark 12:29-31 And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 31 And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.

The test of holiness, the test of sanctity before God is our attitude toward Him and our love toward Him. To be holy does not mean only that we avoid certain things. I have long said that the Christian life is not about what you don't do. So many people are so satisfied that they don't do this or don't do that. But the life of a Christian is measure in how much he or she lovingly follows God and secondly, their attitude toward others.

Love is actionable. It is not a feeling. Can you prove your love toward God in your actions? Are you angry with him? Are you bitter toward him? Do you live your life with God as an afterthought? Or are you serving him because you love him?

What about are your attitude toward others? Are you bitter toward others? Do you look down on others? Are you meek and teachable? Are you merciful and forgiving? Are you defensive? Do you love others as much as you love yourself? Do your actions prove it?

A Righteousness Greater Than the Pharisees'

We as Christians are called to live righteously. We are called to live holy and separated lives. We are called to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. This is not something that can be done of our own power. It is impossible, but within each disciple of Jesus lives the person of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to follow Jesus. He gives us the desire to pursue a relationship with Him and to live life, not as a series of checkboxes that need marked, but to live righteously in close fellowship with God. It is this relationship that is the principle behind the practices of righteousness.

You do not become a Christian by refraining from certain actions and by doing others. The Christian is a person who has entered into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. The are a person that has been born again by the Holy Spirit. True discipleship, this lifestyle of following Jesus, is not attained by simply coming to church on Sundays. It is a full-time calling. It demands all the time and the attention we have.

Invitation

This sermon was meant for two groups of people: Those that know Jesus as their personal savior, and those that do not.

I'll speak first to those who know Jesus as their savior.

Life Groups

"The Pharisees and the scribes were denounced by our Lord as being hypocrites. Yes; but they were unconscious hypocrites. They did not realize it, they really thought all was well. You cannot read your Bible without constantly being reminded of that terrible danger. There is the possibility of our relying upon the wrong thing, of resting upon things that appertain to true worship rather than being in the position of true worship."

David Martyn Lloyd-Jones. Studies in the Sermon on the Mount (Kindle Locations 3012-3015). Kindle Edition.

We have seen repeatedly in different studies and sermons leading up to this that our relationship with Jesus is not just about checking boxes. You cannot have a relationship that way. But this brings to light that not only is attempting to live righteously by checking the boxes an impossibility, but it is also sin.

1. The Pharisees focused on external rituals rather than matters of the heart. How can Christians ensure that their worship is genuine and not merely outward observance?

2. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy in the passage from Luke 18:9-14. What Beatitude(s) guard Christians from falling into hypocrisy?

3. We talked about the Pharisees' emphasis on man-made rules and regulations. In what ways do you see similar tendencies in contemporary Christian communities?

4. The sermon highlights the need for Christians to be meek, teachable, and merciful. How do you strive to embody these qualities in your interactions with others?

How do humility and meekness play a role in our pursuit of holiness and righteousness?

Share personal experiences or examples of how humility and meekness have been demonstrated in your life or observed in others.

5. How do you (can you) integrate your faith into your daily life and relationships outside of church gatherings?

6. We saw the importance of loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. How do you personally cultivate and deepen your love for God in your daily life?

7. The Pharisees had a tendency to justify themselves before men rather than God. How can Christians guard against seeking validation and approval from others rather than God?

05MAY@GNBC