05 The Righteousness of the Pharisees

 

In our last study, we looked at the law and the prophets. And Jesus emphatically said, “Don’t think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets, I didn’t come to destroy but to fulfil.” The law was introduced and emphasized over those two verses.

Let’s recap:

  • Matthew 5:17-18
    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.
  • The law is not destroyed.
  • Not even the least stroke of the law is changed before heaven and earth passes away.

And then we come to our study today on the righteousness of the Pharisees.

  • Matthew 5:19
    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.
  • We are warned not to break the commandments and not to teach others to break them also but exhorted to do it and to teach them to others to keep them!
  • The theme of the law is carried over to our study today.

But then in the very next verse, it’s not mentioning the law or the commandments. What does it say?

  • Matthew 5:20
    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.
  • Our righteousness has to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees.

So we see a very clear progression.

  • In verse 17 and 18 it introduces the law and its unchangeableness.
  • Then in verse 19 we are exhorted to keep the commandments and teach others to do so.
  • And then in verse 20 we are warned that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees.
  • Somehow, righteousness is connected with the law, with the ten commandments. Do we see this in scripture? Absolutely!
  • Psalms 119:172
    My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.

    • All of God’s commandments are righteousness.

Matthew 5:19 tells us that before we can teach others, we must make sure that we are doers of the law ourselves.

  • Obviously there were people out there disobeying the ten commandments, but not only that but also teaching others that there was no need to obey the ten commandments as well. God said that they would be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.
  • To be called the least in the kingdom of heaven is not to mean that the person who broke the ten commandments would be there in heaven but regarded as the smallest. But rather, it is the attitude that the kingdom would take in regards to the lawbreakers – how God and the heavenly host would look at them.
  • The point is very clear when we connect it to the scribes and Pharisees in the next verse, as they would “in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

What is actually the least of the ten commandments? What is that to you?

  • There are some that require action, and others by thought. And even then there are some that are in between.
  • Personally I think that covetousness is the least commandment. It is such a hard sin to detect. We can only know the state of our covetousness when it is manifested in some other action or sin. Covetousness begins in our heart. It is a state of our heart.
    • If I am covetous over a man’s phone maybe I might steal it from him or kill him for it.
    • The tenth commandment is clear – do not covet your neighbours wife. The only way I can covet her is to kill the husband or cause a divorce to happen between them which is connected with spiritual adultery.
  • But yet there are others that are simple to break as well such as taking God’s name in vain.
  • But either way, we are not here to debate which is actually the least commandment. Jesus is simply saying no matter which one you think to be the least, that is still enough to keep you out of heaven!

So does commandment keeping actually save us? Does it mean that we are saved by works? What does the Bible say?

  • Romans 2:13
    For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

    • The word “just” means righteous.
    • So we are righteous only when we keep the law?
  • Why does Paul seem to focus on the works? Surely we aren’t saved by keeping any law right? What is he trying to highlight?
  • Romans 2:15
    Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another.

    • In keeping the law, becoming a doer a law, simply shows that we have the law written in our hearts.
  • In other words, it is impossible to keep the law without first having the law written within. And evidence that we have the law within is manifested in our works – in the keeping of the law.
  • Scripture harmonizes this fact very clearly.
  • Ephesians 2:8-10
    8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

    • We aren’t saved by works. But when we are created new in Christ by His grace, we are created unto good works. Not just good thoughts, but good WORKS!
  • James 2:17
    Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

    • We need faith and works. Neither by itself is sufficient.
    • True faith is manifested in true works.
  • So our focus should not be on works. It shouldn’t be all about just simply keeping the ten commandments. It should be on faith that will produce good works!

Those that are great in the kingdom of heaven both do and teach the commandments. What do you call someone that teaches others but yet doesn’t do it themselves?

  • That’s what we call a hypocrite. Or in the Bible we also call them a Pharisee.
  • That’s why Jesus exhorts us to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.

Let’s have a look at the righteousness of the Pharisees in scripture.

  • Matthew 23:1-7
    1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

    • Jesus actually tells us we should do what the Pharisees tell us to do. In other words, there is a lot of truth in what they teach. Just don’t do what they do.
  • So they lack application.
  • They like to be seen of others like they are religious of good and just and holy men. But it’s just a show, it’s all an act.

What is true righteousness?

  • Romans 3:10-12
    10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
  • Obviously this text is describing those that are not righteous. And so all we need to do is make it the opposite.
  • Righteousness is right doing. Righteousness is found in the doing. Doing good!
  • But specifically what is good that we must do?
  • Romans 7:12
    Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

    • It is the law! The commandments!
  • You see, the Pharisees liked to do seemingly good things like washing hands before they ate. But the things that really mattered, the things that were important to God, they left undone.
  • Matthew 15:1-3, 7-9
    1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
  • The Pharisees were all about their traditions, their own teachings. Doing the things that seemed good but weren’t the meat, the substance of what God wanted.
  • They did all these things to the exclusion of keeping the commandments of God! They made their traditions more important than keeping the commandments of God.
  • Jesus exhorts us, we need to go beyond that, way beyond that, if we wish to enter into heaven.

Does God expect us to keep the 10 commandments perfectly?

  • Absolutely!
  • What happens when we break it?
    • 1 John 3:4
      Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
    • It’s sin and we know that no sinner with their sins unconfessed is entering into heaven.
  • Yes, we all have sinned and come short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23) but He still requires perfect obedience. He wants us to stop sinning. Otherwise Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is in vain.

How can we make sure we go beyond the righteousness of the Pharisees today?

  • Matthew 5:19
    • If we do and teach the commandments to others.
  • Matthew 5:17-20 doesn’t tell us how we can be righteous. It just says that we must be. We must do and teach others. Our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
  • Matthew 5:14-16 doesn’t tell us how we can be righteous either. It just tells us that we should be lights to the world. We must shine the word of God to others. In other words, we should do and teach the law to others.
  • Matthew 5:13 also does not tell us how to be righteous. It just states that we need to be the salt of the earth. How? We should do the law and teach others.
  • So how can we be righteous? It is found in the beatitudes!
    • Blessed are the poor in spirit, that realise their need of Jesus.
    • Blessed are those that mourn, that realise their sins and confess them and mourn over them.
    • Blessed are the meek, who look to Jesus the meek and learn of Him.
    • Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness.
    • Blessed are the merciful.
    • Blessed are the peacemakers.
    • And then finally, blessed are those that are persecuted for righteousness sake.
    • You cannot be persecuted for righteousness sake if you are not righteous!
  • At what point are we made righteous? It is a process.
    • Realising your need, then coming to the One that can cleanse you from all unrighteousness. That confession and seeking forgiveness.
    • But not stopping there. But going on to hunger and thirst after righteousness so that we won’t go back to our old life of sin. Allowing the word of God to sit in our hearts and transform us.
  • That’s why God wants us to experience His new covenant!
    • Hebrews 10:16
      This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them.
    • What is the new covenant? He wants to write His law in our hearts and in our minds.
    • Is there a part for us to play? Of course! God is not going to just magically write it there without any effort on our part. Remember, faith and works.
    • We must hunger and thirst for it. And as we commune with God in His word, that law, His character, His glory, will be formed within.
    • We will become and new creature and old things will pass away!
  • Psalms 119:11
    Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

    • God wants us to put the word in our hearts and the result is that we won’t sin against Him
    • If we are not sinning against Him, we are keeping the law, we are doing it, it means that we are righteous!
  • So the reason why the Pharisees say but don’t do is because they are hungering and thirsting after the law of God. But it’s also because they have not come to the point where they realise they need Him more than anything else on this earth.
  • This is the base foundation. And we find it in the Beatitudes.

Is it possible to teach the law if you don’t know the law? Is it possible to teach the Bible if you don’t know the Bible?

  • It’s called teaching tradition.
  • I grew up in church all my life and even though I didn’t read the Bible, there were things that I knew were in the Bible that I should do. How did I know? My mother told me. My pastor told me. My elder told me. My friends told me.
  • But we rely more on human teaching rather than the word itself, to the extent that we don’t even know if it is in the Bible or not. Or we don’t even know where in the Bible it is.

How can we have true righteousness today? How can we ensure that our righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees?

  • Matthew 6:33
    But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
  • When you read the Bible text it is familiar to us now. What is familiar?
    • The kingdom of God.
  • What about it? We must seek this first. We must make it our first work. To seek God’s kingdom and also His righteousness (His law).
  • The result? All these other things will be added.
  • What other things?
    • We don’t need to focus on adding the good works and actions. We must focus on the seeking. God will add. He will give the new birth.

Let’s make this our first work – to seek God and seek His word and seek His law every morning. We must give Him our best affections and the best time. The first the last and the best of our days. Then as we put the word in our heart, it will transform us. It will keep us from sinning. The word will be the power that will help us to do it and mould us into the man and woman that God desire for us to be.

2 thoughts on “05 The Righteousness of the Pharisees”

  1. I praise the Lord for this ministry. I’m a pastor and sometimes I feel my righteousness is just like the Pharisees. When I study the Bible and see new light, what comes to my mind is how to turn it into a sermon than allowing the word speak to my life.
    Thank you so much for this article

    1. Praise God. We have all lived with a Pharisee mindset before. May God help us all to be more like Jesus everyday!

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