Matthew
5:(20), 21-37
Righteousness
which Exceeds
"Unless your righteousness
exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven."
This was the concluding verse to
last week’s gospel lesson. I guess no
one wonders why Pastor Jon didn’t make it the focal point of his sermon.
Technically, this verse isn’t even a
part of today’s reading. So I could have
avoided it too. But then I would have
had to address head on what happens to folks when they murder – which Jesus
says happens every time we are angry with a sister or brother. I could have avoided “Unless your righteousness
exceeds…” and proceeded directly to a discussion of when an admiring glance
become a lustful look. Or I could have spent
this day patching up the lives of those among us who have experienced the
heartbreak of divorce; or have entered into a second marriage with someone who has.
"Unless your righteousness
exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven."
Don't forget who those "scribes
and Pharisees" were. Their
distinction arose out of their adherence to the letter of the law.
The scribes were the scholars, the
learned individuals who read through the ancient texts and identified every
single instruction that Yahweh had ever given.
The Pharisees were those lived
according to the laws which the scribes found.
They were deeply committed individuals; zealous in their attempts to
obey each of the laws. They became model
citizens and active church members. They
were continually examining themselves and striving to make sure they never
broke a single one of the stated laws.
They lived lives which approached flawlessness. They were about as close to perfect as you
could ever be.
This is the control group – scribes and
Pharisees. These are the individuals
against whom Jesus says we must compare our righteousness. Our righteousness is to exceed that of the
scribes and Pharisees if we are to enter the kingdom of heaven. No wonder our chins drop upon hearing these
words.
I do have some really good news to
share with you this morning. It has to
do with the way more recent students of the sacred texts have come to understand
what Jesus meant when he spoke of “righteousness.” Taken into consideration is the style of
Jesus’ directives on murder, adultery, divorce and bearing false witness. Taken into consideration is the placement of
these verses, within Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Taking this into account, we begin
to understand that Jesus talk of a righteousness which EXCEEDS has to do with
a righteousness which is born of God rather than a righteousness built up from
our own ability to obey.
The foundation for such an understanding
was laid five weeks ago, when we observed the Baptism of our Lord. That Sunday - which may seem like a long time
ago but recounted events only two chapters earlier. In Matthew 3 we hear Jesus
speak for the first time about the righteousness which concerns him.
In Matthew 3, when Jesus comes to be
baptized by John, John tries to prevent him.
John points out that Jesus is the spiritually pure one, the one who is
the Child of God, so he should be baptizing John, not John baptizing him.
But John finally gives in and
baptizes Jesus. He does so when Jesus
says to him, "let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to
fulfill all righteousness."
“Righteousness.”
In the scriptures, there are
differing uses of the word "righteousness." In the New Testament there are at least
three.
First, righteousness is sometimes
spoken of as those actions which bring about an increase of justice. This is probably the way we tend to think of righteousness. This way of speaking of righteousness would identify
good deeds, done to the benefit of God and neighbor. Obeying the Ten Commandments and all those
other laws discovered by the scribes would fall into this type of
righteousness. This way of speaking of righteousness does represents our adherence to the word and law of God. This is most likely the understanding of righteousness
which, when it comes to mind, fills us with thoughts of inadequacy.
A second use of the word
righteousness falls into the category of legal language. It is the prerogative of the judge to declare
one "righteous." No evidence
or testimony is necessary, the judge simply has the right to declare one as
righteous and this becomes their status before the law. St. Paul insists that this "decree of
righteous" is handed out by God to all those who call upon the name of
Jesus.
But there remains this third use of
the concept of "righteousness."
Unlike the other two, this righteousness has nothing to do with us or
our actions. This righteousness only
involves God. God alone IS
righteous. God possesses
righteousness. It is that characteristic or trait which makes God - God.
Righteousness in this sense is categorically different from any righteousness
which we could ever achieve or be granted.
It is this "righteousness of
God" which concerns St. Matthew.
In writing his gospel story, Matthew hinges the whole event upon God's
righteousness. He repeatedly illustrates
the inadequacy of our own attempts at righteousness. In our gospel lesson for today, Jesus tells
us that unless our righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees we
will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
He then goes on to illustrate why the "righteousness" of the
scribes and Pharisees is worthless.
Perhaps one could be successful in
abiding by the ancient law, "You shall not murder." But who is capable of living according to
the intent of that law? Jesus reminds us
that the law is more than a prohibition upon the taking of another's life. It also places constrains upon our anger and
insults. Maybe we can avoid adultery -
if by that we only mean certain limited actions. But who is capable of preventing their eye
from wondering?
Jesus illustrates that the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees is worthless because you can never
legislate away all transgressions of God's law.
The level of righteousness which God desires can never be achieved
through our actions. The righteousness which exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees is the righteousness of
God. It is the righteousness given to
us in Jesus.
The gospel story, the good news of
God's anointed Messiah, begins and ends with this outpouring of God's
righteousness. It is freely offered to
us so that we might possess it and live in its comfort. As Christians, we gather to sing praises to
the God who has done this marvelous and wonderful thing. Far be it from us to cheapen God's action by
allowing our obedience to take center stage.
I tell you, unless your
righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, unless it is the
righteousness granted to you by God, you will never even recognize the kingdom
over which Jesus reigns.
That kingdom, the one over which
Jesus reigns, is marked by a grace filled understanding of the goodness and the
invitation of God’s righteousness.
Amen.
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