True Righteousness

Matthew 5: The Sermon on the Mount (21)

Pray Psalm 15.1, 2.
Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle?
Who may dwell in Your holy hill?
He who walks uprightly,
And works righteousness,
And speaks the truth in his heart…

Sing Psalm 15.1, 2.
(Arlington: This Is the Day the Lord Has Made)
LORD, who may dwell within Your tent, or on Your holy hill?
All those who keep Your covenant and walk within Your will. 

All they who with integrity work peace and righteousness,
forever in God’s house shall be forgiven, kept, and blessed.

Read Matthew 5.21-48; meditate on verses 43-48.
What should perfection look like in your life?

Prepare.
1. What is the role of the heart in becoming righteous?

2. What standard of righteousness did Jesus hold out for us? 

Meditate.
External righteousness, paraded before the eyes of men, was the form of righteousness with which most people in Jesus’ day were familiar, but that kind of righteousness does not meet the standard of Kingdom righteousness (v. 20). Life in the Kingdom entails a form of righteousness that exceeds that with which the people in Jesus’ day were familiar. This is because true righteousness begins within, in a heart guarded against evil and set to do what is right according to God’s Law.

Righteousness takes the form of love for God and neighbors as God shapes the soul for self-denial and putting others first. It’s a struggle, because the natural disposition of our soul is toward self-service, not looking out for others. Jesus taught that people need to watch over their hearts, echoing instruction by Solomon (Prov. 4.23), and to make sure that the attitude of our heart is always what it should be before the Lord. We must guard against adultery, rash speaking, and all selfless ways and go the extra mile in service and love, even to the point of loving our enemies. 

Only when our hearts are right will we think correctly about righteousness and value it as the primary Kingdom priority (Matt. 6.33); and only then will we live out true righteousness in all our relationships, roles, and responsibilities.

God the Father, after all, is perfect; and He calls all those who know and love Him to be perfect as well. In this life, we can only strive for perfection, by hungering and thirsting for righteousness from the inside-out. But if we will keep a close watch on our heart—our desires, longings, and loves—as instructed by the Law of God, then the righteousness that comes out in our lives will be truerighteousness. It will be the righteousness of Jesus Christ, in Whom and by Whose example we obey God’s Law and all His Word.

Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162
True righteousness can only be attained through Jesus Christ;
and it can only be lived through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Here’s the problem, as I see it:
A partial gospel is preached today. It is the gospel of John the Baptist: 
“And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins, as it is written in the book of the word of Isaiah the prophet, saying: ‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the LORD…”’” (Lk. 3.3, 4). 
He was preparing the way. He wasn’t the way. 
Nor was this the Gospel. 
Repentance for the remission of sins was the first step. 
Then Jesus conquered sin and death for us, left to go back to heaven, 
and sent His Spirit, The Helper, to enable us to live in the Kingdom of His Father. 
To do the works planned beforehand for us to do (Eph. 2.10). 
To live in His Kingdom which has come to earth; 
and to do His will on earth as it’s done in heaven (Matt. 6.10). 
To seek the Kingdom first and foremost in our lives (Matt. 6.33); 
and to do corporately (with other believers) greater works, here and now, to realize the Kingdom— 
To recapture the world from the enemy, and to beautify it, and its people, for God’s glory. 

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; 
and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father” (Jn. 14.12).

And how will we do those works? Jesus will send us His Spirit.

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, 
that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, 
Whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; 
but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (Jn. 14.16, 17). 
Boom! There you have it. The full potential for possible righteousness.

And all this righteousness? 
It is to make the Church, of Jesus Christ, the joy of the whole earth (Ps. 48.2).

“The Mighty One, God the LORD, has spoken and called the earth
from the rising of the sun to its going down.
Out of Zion [the Church], the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth.
Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent;
a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him.
He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: 
‘Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’ 
Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge” (Ps. 50.1-6).

As His children, as those who have made a covenant with Him by sacrifice, 
believe the whole Gospel, and live in its truth.
Not just the beautiful Gospel of salvation; but the Gospel of the Kingdom for which Jesus, our Savior, died to bring to earth. “…but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself” (Heb. 9.26). His sacrifice—our salvation—to send us forth into His Kingdom for His glory. Now.
To bear fruits of true righteousness (Gal. 5.22, 23).
“Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal. 5.24, 25).

Reflect.
1. How would you explain righteousness to a new believer?

2. Righteousness does not earn salvation but issues from it. Explain.

3. What is the role of the Spirit in helping us to realize more of Jesus’ righteousness?

It is the duty of Christians to desire, and aim at, and press towards perfection in grace and holiness. And therein we must study to conform ourselves to the example of our heavenly Father. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Matthew 5.43-48

Pray Psalm 15.2-5.
As you pray this psalm, think about the day ahead. Prepare your heart for true righteousness by committing every activity, situation, and opportunity to the Lord now.

Sing Psalm 15.2-5.
(Arlington: This Is the Day the Lord Has Made)
Let truth from every heart proceed, and slander disappear: 
Thus shall we know God’s grace indeed and feel His Presence near.

No evil to your neighbor speak, nor turn against your friend:
Thus shall you know the end you seek, God’s Presence without end. 

Let every sinner be despised; but those who fear the LORD
shall honor have before our eyes, according to God’s Word.

All they who keep their word in faith, though suffering may ensue, 
shall know the favor of God’s grace, His Presence ever true. 

No greed and no injustice shall they do who seek the LORD; 
but on His mercy ever call and stand upon His Word.

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).

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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 finishes our study of 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.

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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.