For I tell you, unless your righteousness (your uprightness and your right standing with God) is more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:20 AMPC
I think that if this had been my words, you’d probably say I’m being too strict. You’d think it’s not possible, thinking righteousness is the same anyways. But you’re very much aware where these words are coming from. The Lord Jesus has declared and that is the final, nothing more, nothing less. This is a stern warning not to be fooled by religiosity; don’t mistake religiousness for righteousness.
As far as God is concerned, there is a righteousness that is not enough to bring one before God. Such righteousness that is still not able to bring one into God’s kingdom. This is the righteousness of the ‘scribes (teachers of the law) and Pharisees’. Jesus’ message is clear: outwardly following the law is not enough. He wants us to have a deeper understanding of righteousness. Religiousness without a change of heart and action is utterly useless. Perhaps you’re also wondering what such righteousness looks like, the kind of righteousness that is condemned by the Lord. How can it be identified?
The Religiosity of the Scribes and Pharisees
They talk a good line, but they don’t live it. They don’t take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It’s all spit-and-polish veneer. Instead of giving you God’s Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn’t think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called ‘Doctor’ and ‘Reverend.’
Matthew 23:3b-7 MSG
This is the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees. It is a sham, a superficial and hypocritical righteousness. It is a life concerned with impressing the public and not God. The zeal possessed by such drives him to do things that are not approved by God but gathers the applause of men. They give in public to receive commendation of a philanthropic heart. A man that embodies this life will stop at nothing to be seen by all and sundry.
Their lives, Jesus says, is not worthy of emulation. “So, observe and practice all they tell you; but do not do what they do, for they preach, but do not practice.” (Matthew 23:3 AMPC) They utter correct teaching, but unfortunately, it is only by word of mouth, it never translates into their actions so that they live it out. Their mouths produce sweet words but not their way of life. They do not have the integrity to say, like Paul, “I beg you, then, to follow my example.” (1 Corinthians 4:16 GNT)
Jesus’ call is for us to leave outward religiosity and have an authentic relationship with Him. If we would live correctly, we have to check our hearts to confirm that godliness is the totality of our being.
“But as for you, O man of God, flee from all these things; aim at and pursue righteousness (right standing with God and true goodness), godliness (which is the loving fear of God and being Christlike), faith, love, steadfastness (patience), and gentleness of heart.”
2 Timothy 2:22