In Matthew 5:20, Jesus makes a profound statement to his disciples: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” This verse raises an important question – why did Jesus say that the disciples’ righteousness needed to exceed that of the religious leaders of the day?
To properly understand this verse, it’s important to first understand who the scribes and Pharisees were. The scribes were experts in the Jewish law and were responsible for making copies of Scripture and teaching it. The Pharisees were a religious group who strictly followed the laws of Moses and the traditions of the elders. They were known for being meticulous about observing religious rituals and outward displays of piety.
On the surface, it would seem that the scribes and Pharisees had a very high level of righteousness. They knew the Scriptures inside and out, and they went to great lengths to keep the law. However, Jesus saw through their outward displays of righteousness to expose their inner hearts. He had numerous confrontations with the scribes and Pharisees throughout his ministry, accusing them of hypocrisy, pride, greed, and completely missing the spirit of the law (Matthew 23:13-36).
Though they appeared righteous on the outside, Jesus knew the scribes and Pharisees were full of sin on the inside – things like selfishness, jealousy, judgmental attitudes, and failure to love God and others. Their focus was entirely on external obedience while their hearts remained unchanged. The righteousness Jesus requires goes beyond surface level rule following – it’s a heart righteousness that transforms inward desires and motivations.
For the disciples to enter the kingdom of heaven, their righteousness needed to stem from the inside out. It needed to be more than checking religious boxes or trying to maintain appearances. True righteousness flows from a regenerated heart that longs to please God out of loving obedience, not self-righteous adherence to man-made standards.
There are several key reasons the righteousness of the disciples needed to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees:
1. The scribes and Pharisees were hypocritical
Throughout his ministry, Jesus repeatedly exposed the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. In Matthew 23, he systematically calls out the scribes and Pharisees for not practicing what they preached (Matthew 23:3). Their outward displays of piety masked inward corruption.
For example, though they tithed faithfully, they neglected “the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23). They also did things like cleaning the outside of cups while leaving the inside full of greed (Matthew 23:25-26). Their focus was all about appearing righteous rather than genuine godliness.
For the disciples to be part of God’s kingdom, their righteousness needed to be free from hypocrisy and flow from a transformed heart, not just adherence to external religious standards.
2. The scribes and Pharisees were prideful
One of the chief sins Jesus confronted the scribes and Pharisees about was pride. They loved positions of honor and the esteem of men (Matthew 23:6-7). Much of their “righteous” behavior was motivated by wanting to be seen and praised by others.
In contrast, Jesus demonstrated true humility by washing his disciples feet (John 13:1-17). He instructs his followers not to do righteous acts for the praise of men but to do them secretly before God alone (Matthew 6:1-18). The disciples’ righteousness needed to be motivated by humility and service rather than prideful self-exaltation.
3. The scribes and Pharisees focused on external obedience over internal change
As mentioned, the scribes and Pharisees went to great lengths to carefully keep the letter of the law. But they completely neglected the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faith (Matthew 23:23). They were meticulous about outward obedience but refused to let God’s truth change their hearts.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes it clear he is calling his disciples to a righteousness that starts from the inside and works its way outward. For example, it’s not enough to avoid murder – his followers must eliminate hatred and anger from their hearts (Matthew 5:21-26).
True righteousness is not just abstaining from sinful actions; it’s being inwardly transformed so that righteous thoughts, words, and deeds naturally flow out of a changed heart.
4. The scribes and Pharisees nullified God’s word through their traditions
Jesus took issue with the fact that the Pharisees elevated their extrabiblical traditions to the point of actually contradicting and nullifying God’s word (Matthew 15:1-9). Their rigorous observance of man-made rituals undermined the spirit and intent of Scripture.
The disciples needed to develop a righteousness rooted in God’s truth as revealed in the Bible rather than pursuing legalistic rule keeping focused on outward compliance alone. Only through knowing and obeying God’s word could they live righteously in a way that brings true honor to him.
5. The scribes and Pharisees were full of greed and self-indulgence
Despite their show of piety, Jesus exposed the fact that inwardly the religious leaders were dominated by greed and self-indulgence. They focused on minor aspects of the law while neglecting matters like “justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23).
True righteousness requires caring for the needs of others and laying down one’s own rights. The disciples needed to embrace sacrifice, compassion, and generosity rather than living for themselves as the corrupt religious leaders did.
6. The scribes and Pharisees failed to love God and others
When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).
No matter how scrupulous the scribes and Pharisees were about keeping religious rules, they neglected the greatest commandment. They completely failed to extend love and mercy to others.
Jesus makes love the ultimate measure of righteousness. The disciples could only fulfill God’s law by embracing sacrificial love for God and others from the heart.
7. The scribes and Pharisees fostered self-righteous judgmentalism
One of the most sinister fruits of the scribes and Pharisees’ external focus on righteousness was a judgmental, critical spirit towards others. They looked down on those they saw as sinners while seeing themselves as superior.
Jesus strongly warns his followers not to judge others (Matthew 7:1-5). A critical, condescending attitude has no place in Christlike righteousness. The disciples were to pursue humility, compassion, and grace in their dealings with others.
True righteousness recognizes one’s own spiritual poverty apart from Christ. It extends mercy rather than scorn toward moral failures in others.
8. The scribes and Pharisees failed to grasp the purpose of biblical law
At its foundation, the law of Moses was meant to reveal God’s perfect holiness and expose human sinfulness and need for a Savior (Romans 3:19-20). It was never intended to be a system of earning righteousness through works. The Pharisees completely missed this in all their rule keeping.
The disciples needed to understand the righteous demands of the law could only be fulfilled through faith in Christ and the regenerating work of the Spirit. Only through God’s grace could they attain true inward righteousness.
9. The scribes and Pharisees rejected Jesus and led others astray
Ultimately, the greatest failure of the religious leaders was their rejection of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Not only did they reject him, but they also actively opposed him and sought to turn others against him as well.
To enter God’s kingdom, the disciples had to align with Jesus and his message rather than the corrupted religious system of the day. They needed a righteousness centered on faith in Christ alone versus adherence to human traditions and corrupted leadership.
In summary, for the disciples to enter God’s kingdom, their righteousness needed to be more than an external show. It had to flow from inward renewal and align with the truth and example of Christ. Moral perfection could never be achieved through rule keeping; it required grace-empowered transformation of the heart.
Jesus was inaugurating a new covenant and a new way of righteousness that exceeded the hollow obedience of the scribes and Pharisees. Only through embracing his revolutionary message and receiving new life through the Spirit could the disciples live as genuinely righteous followers of a holy God.