Saints Exceed Pharisee Righteousness

[robert derrick]

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' way of exceeding the righteousness of the Pharisees is twofold:

First by purifying the heart, that doing righteousness may be with a righteous heart, and not outwardly only, as are Pharisees.

Second, by purifying the law of Christ from the transitions and commandments of men added to the law, as do Pharisees.

Those not doing the law of Christ at all, are not even as righteous as the Pharisees,

The transgressing sinners just need to repent of sinning and be saved.

And finally, those teaching against doing the law at all by grace, can't even do that, until they repent of their teaching doctrines of devils for that of Christ.

 

[GEN2REV]

One way that saints exceed the Pharisaical righteousness is to obey the 10 Commandments.

The Pharisees taught the 10 Commandments, but did not obey them.

Jesus directly commanded us to obey the 10 Commandments that the Pharisees taught from Moses' Law, but not to do as they did, disobeying the Commandments.

Matthew 23:1-3

 

[Hidden In Him]

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' way of exceeding the righteousness of the Pharisees is twofold:

First by purifying the heart, that doing righteousness may be with a righteous heart, and not outwardly only, as are Pharisees.

Second, by purifying the law of Christ from the transitions and commandments of men added to the law, as do Pharisees.

Those not doing the law of Christ at all, are not even as righteous as the Pharisees,

The transgressing sinners just need to repent of sinning and be saved.

And finally, those teaching against doing the law at all by grace, can't even do that, until they repent of their teaching doctrines of devils for that of Christ.

I haven't fully kept up with your theology so we may have points of discrepancy, but in essence yes. In discussing the righteousness of the Pharisees, Jesus' emphasis was not just on the Pharisees keeping ceremonial law or observing the traditions of men, but on how the major difference between how they did things and how one should was in keeping the heart and intent of law as opposed to just keeping it superficially. The obvious point of the teaching, therefore, was that true righteousness involves keeping the law from the heart, and therefore more genuinely than the Pharisees, who were doing so hypocritically.

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly 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 teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And 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 or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; 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 together on the way, or your adversary 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 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.