Matthew 5:20 The Kind of Righteousness That It Takes to Enter the Kingdom of Heaven

 

Introduction:  Jesus has begun to explain His attitude and thinking toward the Law.  He had not come to destroy it, but to fulfill it, verses 17-19.  Now He explains that the Law is not the way to enter the kingdom of heaven, verse 20.

 

I.  The kind of righteousness had by the scribes and Pharisees.

            A.  Theirs was a righteousness by the Law.

                        1.  They were strict followers of the Law, at least they thought they were. 

                                    (They actually broke the Law in many ways).

                        2.  They were strict to follow the letter of the Law.

                                    a.  Wherein the Law said, “thou shalt not bow down to any graven image,” they did not

                                                bow to any image.

                                    b.  Wherein the Law said, “thou shalt not kill,” they did not murder.

                                    c.  Where it said, “thou shalt not steal,” they did not.

                                    d.  Wherein  the Law said, “tithe,” they tithed.

                                    e.  They kept the Sabbaths and observed the holy days.

                                    f.  Men performed all the required ceremonies.

                        3.  They were strict to follow the interpretations of the Law.

                                    a.  They fasted.  (Often)

                                    b.  They prayed.  (Often and long)

                                    c.  They sang the great hymns.  (Beatitudes)

            B.  They were the most righteous of the righteous.

                        1.  Israel was the most righteous nation in the world.

                        2.  The scribes and Pharisees were the most righteous of the nation.

                        3.  Thus they were the best of the best.

 

II.  The failure of the scribes and Pharisees.

            A.  Jesus said that the scribes and Pharisees failed.  (Except one have a righteousness that exceeds of the

                        scribes and Pharisees he cannot enter the Kingdom of heaven).

            B.  They had an outward righteousness, but not an inward one.

                        1.  They had a show of righteousness, but not a genuine righteousness.

                        2.  Theirs was before men, but not before God.

            C.  They were nothing more than hypocrites, Matthew 23:25-27.

            D.  They were like Israel of old, Isaiah 29:13.               

 

III.  People trying to go to heaven with righteousness like the Pharisees.

            A.  They hope to go by their own deeds of righteousness. 

                        (Join the church, get baptized, eat the Supper, give tithes, give to poor, sing hymns, do church

                        work, live morally clean, be honest, have good reputation.

            B.  They may be as good as the scribes and Pharisees, but they are not good enough.

            C.  They can never be good enough by their own effort.

 

IV.  The kind of righteousness required and how to get it.

            A.  It will take perfect righteousness.  (100%)

            B.   Jesus fulfilled the Law; He kept it 100%.

            C.  You can get it like I got the money to buy a new car.

                        1.  Picked out a new car to buy, but I did not have the money.

                        2.  I asked the banker and he took his money and added it to my account. 

                                    (Legally it became my money). 

                        3.  If you will trust Jesus to save you, He will take his righteousness and credit it to your account. 

                                    (It will legally become your righteousness and you will have 100% righteousness).

 

Conclusion:       1. You must first recognize that you do not have it and that you could never have it on your own.

                        2. You must ask Jesus to save.

                        3. You must trust Jesus to save.

 

Preached at Pleasant Hill 5-2-82 A.M.