WHAT WAS THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE PHARISEES?
Matthew 5:20

Jesus continues His great sermon with these words:  For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 

In Jesus’ day, there seemed to be two approaches to God, both seen in the familiar story Jesus told in Luke 18:9-14.  One approach is seen in the life and attitude of the Pharisee – it was a measurement of his goodness.  The other approach is seen through the Publican – it was an awareness of his badness.  Jesus affirmed the latter and condemned the former.  And we ask ourselves, why?  I believe the answer to that question is found in His teaching in this verse.

First, we need to discover just what the righteousness of the Pharisees was.  It was an external one to be sure.  They took no thought for a person’s attitude or motivation.  All they focused on was the action.  They did not care why you kept the rules, as long as you kept the rules.  They believed God would only judge them for what they did, not for what they thought.  For them, keeping the letter of the law was the only thing that mattered.  Friends, we need to remember that God always looks on the heart.  Listen to these words of admonition from the pen of Isaiah:  These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.  Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men (Isaiah 29:13). 

Second, theirs was a partial righteousness.  They only kept part of the law.  They were selective in their obedience because their hearts were not right before God.  Also, they constantly were changing the rules and redefining the law to fit their own needs.  I remember visiting a family one Sunday afternoon and being invited to play a certain game with them.  As the afternoon progressed, I noticed that the rules of the game kept changing to fit the one who was winning at the moment.  How we enjoy changing definitions, especially about sin.  When we do so, truth becomes more relative and less absolute.

Finally, the righteousness of the Pharisees was very self-centered.  It sought to bring glory to self rather than to God.  How deadly it is when we trumpet, “Look at who I am.”  Jesus is now calling our attention to that which motivates us in ministry.  Is our goal to receive the adulations of men and to be recognized by them, or is it to give glory to God?  For the Pharisees everything they did was to bring recognition to themselves.  Daily I must ask myself, “Max, what about you?  What motivates you today?” 

Father, It is so easy today to become like the Pharisees.  We can become very self-centered rather easily.  We can redefine terminology so as to take the sting out of sin.  And we can focus upon the externals of doing rather than the internals of being what You want us to be.  Every day, Father, help us to ask ourselves about that which motivates us to do what we do.  If self is the answer, then please remove it so that we can serve You with a honest and sincere heart.  We will then give You thanks in the name of Christ Jesus.  Amen.

 

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