Scripture

“But I warn you – unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and of the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”

Observation

We, the followers of Jesus are the salt of the Earth. The salt must keep its flavour, otherwise it becomes useless. We are the light of the world. A city on a hilltop cannot be hidden. In the same way, we are to let our good deeds shine out to the praise of God.

Jesus did not come to abolish the religious law but to fulfil it. Not even the least commandment will pass away until God’s purposes have been completed.

Our righteousness must be better than the righteousness of the Pharisees if we want to enter the kingdom of God.

Application

This righteousness of the teachers of religious law and of the Pharisees was a works based righteousness. They strove to be good, according to their interpretation of God’s law.

In the Beatitudes, Jesus describes a better righteousness. His followers will not achieve self-righteousness by being good. No, God will change their hearts so that good deeds flow from a transformed life.

When God heals our souls and fills us with His love, we find that we want to be kind to others. God’s righteousness does not just cover over a corrupt heart, it gives us a new and clean heart.

Prayer

Thank you, Lord, for the righteousness that comes from you as a gift. Amen.