Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount (13)
Pray Psalm 115.1-3.
Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us,
But to Your name give glory,
Because of Your mercy,
Because of Your truth.
Why should the Gentiles say,
“So where is their God?”
But our God is in heaven;
He does whatever He pleases.
Sing Psalm 115.1-3.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
Not to us, O God, not us, but unto Your Name give glory!
For Your love and faithfulness, ever to Your Name be glory!
Why should the nations cry, “Where is their God on high?”
You rule us, LORD, on high: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Read Matthew 5.1-20; meditate on verse 20.
Prepare.
1. What is necessary to enter the Kingdom of heaven?
2. Did Jesus think the scribes and Pharisees had what it takes to enter the Kingdom of heaven?
Meditate.
Everyone knew the scribes and Pharisees were among the most “righteous” people of their day. This was partly because the scribes and Pharisees made a point of showing-off their “righteousness.” They wore the cool “righteous” clothes, with the little tassels. They sat in the seats reserved for the “righteous” in the synagogues. They prayed “righteous” prayers, loud and long, in the marketplace. They trumpeted their “righteous” giving with a loud show. They told everybody else how to obey the Law if they wanted to be “righteous” like they were—even though they themselves weren’t much for Law-keeping.
Jesus had no use for such “righteousness”, except to point out that the “righteousness” of the scribes and Pharisees was not the righteousness that must characterize those who would shine like lights and serve as salt in the Kingdom of God. Jesus said we need a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees to enter the Kingdom.
That must have set the crowd buzzing: “How can anyone be more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees?”
Jesus will elaborate on what He meant by a righteousness that exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees (vv. 21-30). But before He explained what Kingdom righteousness is, He wanted to make sure the people knew what Kingdom righteousness is not. It is not what they saw in the scribes and Pharisees. The religious leaders were outwardly righteous, as everyone could see. But the righteousness of the Kingdom is an inward righteousness first, or it is not true righteousness at all. It exceeds mere shows of righteousness because it is the pure righteousness of Jesus. So there must be a way to realize the kind of righteousness Jesus has been talking about in this part of the sermon on the mount. There is, and He will explain it to us as He continues His teaching.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
True righteousness “exceeds mere shows of righteousness because it is the pure righteousness of Jesus.”
It is the righteousness, the love, that Paul described in 1 Corinthians 13.
It is a matter of the heart.
Jesus’ righteousness was longsuffering and kind.
He did not envy others.
He never paraded Himself (like the scribes and Pharisees),
nor was He ever puffed up with Himself.
He never behaved rudely.
He never sought His own good.
It took a lot to provoke Him; but disrespecting His Father could unleash it.
He never ever thought anything evil.
He died a gruesome death for our sins, so of course, would never have enjoyed anything sinful.
But the Truth? That would cause Him to rejoice.
He did bear all things for us;
He believed all the things His Father said.
He hoped and endured all things for us.
And all that? That is amazing love and grace. Perfect righteousness—JESUS.
His righteousness is what we strive for—that pure heart, that will see God (Matt. 5.8).
So, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Prov. 4.23).
Understand that as a person thinks in his heart, “so is he” (Prov. 23.7);
and that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jer. 17.9).
God is pure righteousness, as is, His Right Hand Jesus.
“We have thought, O God, on Your lovingkindness, in the midst of Your temple.
According to Your Name, O God, so is Your praise to the ends of the earth;
Your Right Hand is full of righteousness” (Ps. 48.9, 10).
“Righteous are You, O LORD, and upright are Your judgments.
Your testimonies, which You have commanded, are righteous and very faithful…
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your law is truth…
The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting…” (Ps. 119.137, 138, 142, 144).
“Be holy, for I AM holy” (1 Pet. 1.16). Exceeding righteousness. Indeed.
But without it, we will by no other means, enter the Kingdom of heaven (Matt. 5.20).
Reflect.
1. In what ways are you being transformed into the righteousness of Jesus?
2. Why do you think some people in the world resent or become hostile to the idea of righteousness?
3. Righteousness is “boots on the ground” Kingdom living. How can Christians encourage one another more consistently in this way of life?
He finds fault with the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, for they were not concerned with faith in the divine promise but with human praise and worldly glory. Chromatius (fl. ca. 400), Tractate on Matthew 20.3.1-2
Pray Psalm 115.9-18.
Pray that the Lord will allow you to “increase more and more” in His righteousness, so that you shine your light throughout your Personal Mission Field.
Sing Psalm 115.9-18.
(Plainfield: Nothing but the Blood of Jesus)
All who trust in Jesus yield—ever to His Name be glory—
find in Him their help and shield: Ever to Your Name be glory!
O Israel, trust the LORD! He helps us evermore!
Fear Him obey His Word: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Blessings from our gracious LORD—ever to Your Name be glory—
will attend us evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless all who fear You, LORD, all who obey Your Word,
all who Your Name adore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Grant us, Savior, great increase—ever to Your Name be glory!
Bless us with eternal peace: Ever to Your Name be glory!
Heaven and earth are Yours; let every soul adore
and bless You evermore: Ever to Your Name be glory!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment to give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Haven’t been to The Ailbe Bookstore lately? There’s a surprise waiting for you. And men, there is still time to sign-up for one of our Spring Men’s Reading Groups.
Other columns of interest: This week: The Read Moore podcast continues readings from our book, The Kingdom Turn. Our Crosfigell teaching letter presses ahead in a series on the state of the Church in Europe at the time of the Celtic Revival. The ReVision column is studying the Church as Jesus envisions it. Check out our other excellent writers. Click here to see all the other columns and writers available to you.
And please prayerfully consider supporting The Fellowship of Ailbe with your prayers and gifts. You can contribute online, via PayPal or Anedot, or by sending a gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, P. O. Box 8213, Essex, VT 05451.
Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
