January 25, 2023: Exceedingly Righteous!

“For I tell you unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20, ESV)

The righteousness of the Pharisees was a righteousness of ‘doing.’ The righteousness that Jesus calls us to is the righteousness of being. It was a shock when Jesus announced in the Sermon on the Mount that people’s righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were viewed as highly righteous because of their commitment to keeping the law.

But the righteousness that Jesus spoke of was of the heart. It did not come by doing but by believing. It was not a righteousness that was earned; it was a righteousness that was given. It was not a righteousness that men could obtain; it was the righteousness that only God could impart. This righteousness checked a man’s motives at a deeper level.

In the Lord’s table, one sees the body of Christ given and the blood of Christ shed for them. The blood applied by faith to the human heart makes a person righteous! That is why Paul declared, “The righteous shall live by faith!” His trust is now in the blood because he realizes the blood of Christ is what makes him righteous! Therefore, his righteousness, which is of Christ, exceeds that of the Pharisees. Declare with me: “I have an exceeding righteousness that comes through Christ alone! I am exceedingly righteous in Christ!”