The Word: Matthew 5:20

“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.”

Some have referred to this verse in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5-7) as the “thesis” of the whole sermon, and for good reason. Following this passage, Jesus unveils the true standard of righteousness that is in the Law of Moses (5:21-48), confronts the hypocritical and unbelieving false righteousness of many people in His day (6:1-18), and provides instructions and warnings for discernment between those who are righteous and those who are not (7:1-27). Righteousness, true righteousness, is the theme of the whole sermon. In Matthew 5:20, three truths are evident: 1) The need for a “greater” righteousness, 2) The rejection of false righteousness, and 3) The requirement of righteousness.

1) The Need for “Greater” Righteousness

Jesus says emphatically, “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees…” One of the difficulties of our English translations is that the emphasis of the original language (Greek) can often be lost. “Surpass” could be translated as, “abounds much more” or “much more abounding” giving the understanding that the righteousness needs to be far more superior than that of the scribes and Pharisees. This righteousness is ultimately a greater righteousness, primarily because it is the only true righteousness, as opposed the false righteousness that Jesus often confronted (see Matthew 23). Jesus is clear: mankind is in need of a greater righteousness.

2) The Rejection of False Righteousness

The need for the greater righteousness is increased through the contrast with the false righteousness that Jesus describes: “of the scribes and Pharisees.” What are the characteristics of this false righteousness? As Jesus continues in His sermon, he discussed the tendency to focus on the letter of the Law without going beyond that to the Spirit of the Law. For instance, hating someone is okay so long as you do not murder them, or having lustful desires are okay so long as you do not act on them, and so forth. Jesus rejects that surface level reading and application of God’s Word and calls His hearers into a deeper understanding of the truths and the Spirit’s intention in God’s Word.

Later, in Matthew 6, Jesus commanded His disciples three times not to be “like the hypocrites,” which is a direct reference to the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 6:2, 5, 16). Hypocritical righteousness is found in those who practice the works of service and obedience that God desires and demands of His people for the wrong reasons. In Matthew 6:1a, Jesus used this definition: “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them…” This false righteousness is found in doing the things that ought to be done for the sake of receiving the praise and attention of mankind, rather than out of humble submission and relationship with God. Again, Jesus used this kind of language often of the religious leaders of His day, most harshly in Matthew 23. Jesus is clear: this hypocritical righteousness is false righteousness and is absolutely rejected by the Father. “…otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in Heaven” (6:1b).

3) The Requirement of Righteousness

Finally, this point drives home the seriousness and the frightening reality of Jesus’ point most of all. The reason He takes time to establish the need for greater, true righteousness and to reject hypocritical, false righteousness is because the difference between the two is the difference between life and death, Heaven and Hell, salvation and judgment. He says, “[Unless you have this greater righteousness], you will not enter the kingdom of Heaven.” Those are terrifying words. Imagine the reality of the moment: Jesus stands before the common people of His day and boldly proclaims that many of the religious leaders and people are not a part of God’s people nor His kingdom. In modern terms, they are not “going to Heaven.” That is a frightening reality for anyone who, like the scribes and Pharisees, thinks themselves to be righteous (see Luke 18:9). Jesus is clear: greater righteousness is the only way into His kingdom.

How is this type of righteousness possible?

The primary question that remains after such an astonishing truth is: How can I have this greater righteousness that Jesus describes? Thankfully, the context of the Gospel of Matthew and the Sermon on the Mount answer this question for us. First, greater righteousness comes through repentance. “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.‘” (Matthew 4:14) In faith, the sinner must come to Christ in confession and rejection of their sin for forgiveness (see Luke 18:13-14).

Second, greater righteousness comes through following Jesus. “And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.‘” (Matthew 4:19) Greater righteousness is only found in Christ Himself, who is the Beloved and well-pleasing Son of God (Matthew 3:17) who perfectly trusts and obeys the Father (Matthew 4:1-11). Since He is the source of greater righteousness, then it can only truly be found through following Him. Following Him comes with a cost (Matthew 4:20, 22; 16:24-27), but the sacrifice is more than worth it!

Finally, greater righteousness comes through obedience to Christ in faith. At the end of His sermon, Jesus says, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built His house on the rock. And the rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house, and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.” Jesus’ conclusion is that obedience to Him, which is what faith consists of (see John 15:7-10) is where greater righteousness is found. When individuals, in faith, repent of their sins, follow Christ, and live obediently to His Word, His righteousness becomes their righteousness. The presence of His righteousness at work in their lives is the evidence that they are His disciples, His people, and a part of His kingdom. This greater righteousness is the fruit of the Spirit of God in them by faith in Christ (Galatians 5:22-24).

The answer to the question of how anyone can have this righteousness that Jesus and the Father require is simple: Greater righteousness is given through faith in Christ. Faith that knows Christ, repents of sin, and follows Him through obeying His Word.

The Confrontation

First, the requirement of the greater righteousness exhorts us to humbly examine ourselves and ask whether the righteousness of Christ is at work in our lives, or if we have the hypocritical false righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. A simple way to discern the difference is to ask if our affections (desires), attitudes, and actions reflect a humble submission to the Father through Christ to please them, or the desire to please ourselves through receiving the praise of others. Of course, Christians will struggle with the desire for applause, but this desire must be put to death and controlled through the Spirit of God (Romans 8:13; Galatians 5:23, “self-control”).

Second, since this greater righteousness is found only through faith in Christ and His Word, we must be walking obediently in His word in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit for this righteousness to be a reality in our lives. Additionally, the call to obedience for all Christians should be proclaimed as a necessary fruit of faith, not an option. Jesus said that whoever hears and does His word is the wise man who will escape eternal judgment (which is what the storm represents; not just life struggles). Without obedience to Christ in faith, this righteousness is not possible. This standard that Jesus set is the basis for accountability and discipline in the Church. If obedience is not necessary, then Christians should not be expected to live any particular way; but the New Testament is abundantly clear that true Christians pursue obedience to Christ.

Third, we must heed seriously the warning of Jesus and the limitations that His standard puts on entrance into God’s kingdom. Individuals are not heralded to come however they please; rather, they are called to come in humble repentance and surrender to Christ’s authority (which is the whole point of the Sermon on the Mount). In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus speaks about the narrow gate and the small way, which describes the entrance into eternal life. The reason this way is so narrow is not because God’s love is narrow and small, but rather because mankind constantly and hopelessly pursues righteousness their own way and refuses to surrender to Christ’s righteousness and authority. Thus, few find the way to eternal life in Christ precisely because they are not looking for it, because they do not want it Christ’s way. Yet, as believers, we must herald the narrow way of Christ before the world, because only through seeing it and entering it can they find the life that Christ offers.