"Unless Your Righteousness Surpasses...."

[David Koberstein]

Jesus (Yeshua) said to his followers, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter
the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20). According to traditional interpretations, those Jesus referred to as "scribes and Pharisees"
represented the holiest of Jews. But was it really so?

First, some scribes were known for making alterations to the texts. In the book of Revelation, Jesus even issued a warning to
future scribes, who would copy the text, to preserve the original words accurately: "If anyone adds to them...and if anyone takes
away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of Life" (Rev. 22: 18-19). Even though
people did not view scribes in the same negative light as tax collectors, for example, they may have seemed like a righteous elite
that did not actually have a high level of righteous living.

Second, at least some did not consider Pharisees to be counted among the most righteous of Jews. This view was most notably
expressed by the Essenes, a contemporary Jewish sect whose writings were partly preserved in the Dead Sea Scrolls collection.
The Essenes believed that the Pharisees had essentially "sold" Jerusalem to the Greeks and had conspired with God's enemies,
compromising the holiness of the Temple. To emphasize their views, they referred to the Pharisees as "the seekers of smooth things",
as opposed to the preferred name for themselves --- "the seekers of the paths [of God]." In short, these Jews (Essenes) did not
have a high estimation of Pharisaic righteousness (see Dead Sea Scroll text 4Q169).

In the light of these examples, we should conclude that Jesus' words should be taken literally ---the level of righteousness of the
scribes and Pharisees was indeed not enough to enter God's Kingdom. God requires much more!

Shalom

 

[mailmandan]

In regard to Matthew 5:20, "unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven," this statement from Jesus would come as a shock to the multitude of people who had great admiration of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, for their knowledge of the law and seeming righteousness and holiness in external observance of the law, yet Jesus points out their righteousness was defective.

Paul makes it clear in Romans 10:3-4, "For they (Israel) being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who BELIEVES."

We see in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector an example of those who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, yet despised others. (Luke 18:9-14) The righteousness that exceeds the "righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees" (self-righteousness) is the righteousness of God which is from God by faith.

Philippians 3:9 - and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

Romans 3:21 - But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22
even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference.

Romans 4:5 - But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works.