Radical Righteousness Text: Matthew 5:17-20 Series: Sermon on the Mount (#5) Pastor Lyle L. Wahl October 15, 2017 Theme: Radical Righteousness Is Essential To Kingdom Living. Introduction One of the great fascinations for many has been, is illusion making things appear to be something they are not. A person on a table being levitated up and then back down. Swords thrust into or saw blades cutting through a box with the person inside not being injured, but who is separated into two parts and then brought back together. David Copperfield making the Statute of Liberty disappear. Each of these performances have one thing in common: illusion. What people think they see happening is not what is actually happening. Not all illusions share the same motives, intent. A magician s illusions are for entertainment, while some others are serious and sinister. Then too while many are intended to fool or deceive people, others are carried out by sincere people who deceive themselves as well as others. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between a great illusion and the real thing. Countless kinds of illusions and deception occur in religion. There are some who deliberately put on a show to attract and deceive others. Sadly, the old carnival or parlor trick of leg lengthening has been used by many so-called faith healers. Just about anyone can easily learn how to perform that manipulation and perform this trick. Then there are many more who sincerely believe and are devoted to a way to be right with God, but who are deceived and unintentionally deceive others. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus has already talked about being right with God, or righteous, in the Beatitudes. Having talked about the character of kingdom living in the Beatitudes and the effect or influence of that character as God s salt and light in the world, He now focuses on righteousness truly being right with God as we should be.
Jesus teaching in chapter 5 verses 17-20 is the foundation for practical applications which He gives us in the rest of the chapter. Self-made, run of the mill righteousness will not do. God requires true, radical righteousness. Radical righteousness is essential to kingdom living. An Example Of What Is Not True Radical Righteousness. Jesus gives us an example of what is not true radical righteousness in verse 20, For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Let s briefly review some background on the scribes and Pharisees. It can be easy to lump all the Jewish religious leaders of that time together as bad guys. As is usually the case, it is more complicated than that. The religious leaders were highly respected by the people, even revered by many. Most of those leaders were devoted and very sincere. Also, there were major differences between the various groups. There were, for example, theological hard line conservatives and leading edge liberals. The various groups, the Priests, Levites, Scribes, Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots and Essenes were anything but one big chummy, likeminded group. Let s start with the scribes. These men originally came from the tribe of Levi, and being a scribe was an office which they held in the religious system. They were the professional students of the Old Testament Scriptures. They also made copies of them, and also copies of the interpretations and traditions that had grown up around the Scriptures. Then too they taught the law and also were called upon to give rulings on how the Law applied in practical day to day situations. Most of them were theological conservatives. Along with the Pharisees and other religious groups they opposed Jesus as they sought to defend and protect Judaism as they saw it. Now let s move on to the Pharisees. The Pharisees were a group that was a relatively new addition to the religious scene, coming together in the 2 nd century B.C., a couple hundred years before Christ. Their position was not an official office, but they were very influential. As with most scribes, they were theologically conservative. Most of them were middle class businessmen. They were deeply devoted to following the law and separated themselves from 2
the masses by their careful attention to the most intricate and minute details of the law and their traditions. The gospel accounts are not positive toward them. For that matter, their fellow Jews were fairly well on the same page as the gospels on this. The Pharisees were sometimes described as being of seven varieties. There was the Shoulder Pharisee. That may sound strange at first. He was one who wore his good deeds on his shoulder to be seen and honored. Then the Wait-a-little Pharisee. One who waited to see how things played out before acting, taking a position. We all know people like that, don t we? The Blind, or Bruised and Bleeding Pharisee, walking with his head down or turned away to avoid looking at women or unclean people. The Humped-backed Pharisee who walked around with his eyes averted for avoiding temptations. The Ever-Reckoning Pharisee. He was a religious person always keeping score, trying to make sure his good deeds always outnumbered his bad ones. The God-fearing or Timid Pharisee. He had reverence for God out of fear of punishment. And finally the God-loving Pharisee, who was considered to be the ideal: one who obeyed God out of true love for Him. 1 With this background, let s survey the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Drop down to verse 20 again where Jesus says, For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Their righteousness would not get them into the kingdom of heaven. What kind of righteousness did they have that was not good enough? Turn to Matthew chapter 23, and take note of three characteristics of these men as a group and their righteousness. First, they and their righteousness were self-centered and self-enhancing. We pick it up at verse 5 where Jesus said, But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, Rabbi, Rabbi or teacher, teacher. Second, they neglected essentials, while being focused on and sidetracked by small points. We move ahead to verse 23 where Jesus speaks directly to the Pharisees, 3
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! That s very direct, isn t it? For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Third, their focus was on external actions, not internal attitudes which Jesus addressed beginning at verse 25. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. Jesus tells us that this kind of righteousness will not get anyone into the kingdom of heaven. This kind of righteousness was common in that day, and still is common today. It is not true, radical righteousness which is essential to kingdom living. The Foundation Of Radical Righteousness. The foundation and substance of radical righteousness hangs on the absolute and enduring Scriptures. Look at verse 18 back here in chapter 5. Jesus said, For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. The phrase one jot or one tittle may not be instantly clear, or clear at all. Another English version states it, not the smallest letter or stroke (NASB). One more puts it this way, not an iota, not a dot (ESV). Let s look at these two terms Jesus used. We know what the jot or smallest letter is with certainty. The Old Testament was written in Hebrew. The smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet is the yod, which looks like an apostrophe. Turn to Psalm 119. Each stanza of this Psalm begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Our Bibles note this and some Bibles show us the Hebrew character. Look at verse 73. Right above it you will see, in many 4
English versions, both the English word Yod for the letter and the Hebrew character [ ] itself. What Jesus meant by tittle is not as certain. It is possible that is was another small letter, but more likely it refers to little marks added to some letters. The point is that even the smallest strokes of the pen of the Scriptures will not pass away, will not at some point no longer be true, but will always endure, always be true. This was stated in the Old Testament through Isaiah who wrote, The grass withers, the flower fades, We ve seen that recently and quickly this fall haven t we? The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. 2 What s the connection of this to truth, to radical righteousness? Columnist Cal Thomas, who is a Christian, led his column last Monday with Proverbs chapter 29 verse 18, Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom s instruction. He went on to write, In an age when we have cast off most restraints from restrictions on abortion, to sanctioning same-sex marriage, to normalizing the use of nudity, crude language and sex in Hollywood films, not to mention wisdom why is anything off limits? Who decides where the limits are these days? And on what do they base their decision? He continued, we are ridding ourselves of most standards faster than a snake sheds its skin. What did we expect the outcome to look like? Is our moral life and collective notions of right and wrong to be decided by opinion polls and personal feelings, or is there a Higher Authority that should rule over individuals, as well as nations? The question demands an answer. 4 Righteousness, remember, has to do with being morally correct, right. Societies are choosing to determine morality by the current so-called enlightened and politically correct views. So, as Thomas points out, what is in today may be out tomorrow, and visa versa. What is right today may be wrong tomorrow, and visa versa. What is righteous today, may not be tomorrow, and visa versa. 5
If God were like that, we would be hard pressed to know where we stand before Him right now, and wouldn t have a clue for tomorrow. The foundation, the substance of righteousness hangs on the absolute and enduring Scriptures given to us by God! Yes, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. 5 Jesus is, John chapter 1 tells us, the Word (verse 1). He is the living, eternal Word. And He fulfills the Law and the Prophets. Go to verse 17 here in chapter 5. Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Some Jewish people of that time expected the Messiah to come and set aside the Law and Prophets, brining in His own, different standards. They expected, looked forward to that. Other people heard Jesus preach and teach and found His message so different from their religious leaders, that they wondered if He was a true or false prophet. Jesus clarifies these positions, questions and concerns. His role was to fulfill the Scriptures. All of His teaching was in total agreement with the Old Testament. He personally fulfilled all the law completely, perfectly. Even more, He Himself is the fulfillment of the Law. Without this being true, there would be no basis for God declaring us righteous, giving us His righteousness by His grace through faith in Jesus as our Savior. God s truth in the Bible and Jesus fulfilling that truth is the foundation of radical righteousness. The Importance Of Radical Righteousness. Why is this important? Radical righteousness is important because it is essential to kingdom living. In the first instance, it is essential to enter the kingdom of heaven. First, consider the fact. Drop down to verse 20 again. Jesus says, For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. The self-centered, side-tracked, external righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was not good enough to enter God s kingdom. Many hearing Jesus words that day I m sure thought, If they can t enter God s kingdom, what hope is there for me? And many could well have the same question today. After all, Romans chapter 3 verse 10 declares, There is none righteous, no, not one. 6
But there is good news, there is hope radical righteousness provided by God. You and I cannot become righteous in, by ourselves no matter how sincere and dedicated we may be. Romans chapter 3 verses 20-23 makes this crystal clear, by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in [God s] sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for we all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Jesus came to earth to provide righteousness for us through His death and resurrection. As Romans chapter 4 verse 5 tells us, the one who believes on [Jesus] who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness. It is God s gracious gift. The familiar words of Ephesians chapter 2 verses 8-10 tell us, For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not as a result of works, lest anyone should boast. And it is all tied up in Jesus. There is no other way. Jesus declared, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. 3 It all boils down to the truth of 1 John chapter 5 verse 12, He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the son of God does not have life. Yes, true, radical righteousness is essential to enter God s kingdom. It is God s gift of grace to all who come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ. Once we have entered God s kingdom radical righteousness is essential to living out the life of the kingdom and serving in the kingdom. Look at Jesus statement here in verse 19, Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Note first of all that Jesus is talking to those in the kingdom. So, secondly, He is not talking about salvation. He is dividing believers into two broad categories. Those who break His commandments, His teaching, and by example and word teach others to do the same. And 7
those who keep His commandments and teaching, and by their example and word teach others to do the same. Are you a bit intimidated or in fear of this statement? Let s start with the reassurance that Jesus is not talking about people who have arrived at perfection none of us do that here on earth. He is talking about the state of our character and lives at any given point of time. We need to examine ourselves in light of the qualities of kingdom living found in the Beatitudes earlier in verses 3-12 of this chapter. In the rest of the chapter Jesus will speak to some specifics of living out this righteousness: murder, reconciliation, morality, marriage, oaths, non-resistance, love. This is another way in which God is telling us how important it is to not be sucked into, side-tracked by complacency or comparative righteousness. Comparing ourselves to others, usually to those we don t see as being as righteous as we are. Rather, we are to keep pressing on in our quest to allow God to keep shaping and re-shaping us to be like Jesus. We can t say, I ve got some questions, problems, areas where I really need to grow, I don t know a whole lot, so I can t or don t have to actively serve God now. Wherever we are in growth, struggles, failures, we need to be dedicated to keeping, not breaking God s commandments, His truth. As the apostle Paul put it in Philippians chapter 3 verse 16, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained (NASB). However much you have grown, and however much or little you may see of it, live up to, according to what God has taught you and built into your character to this point. Keeping God s commandments, living and serving in line with His truth, purity and holiness are important. Remember the description of rewards for service in 1 Corinthians chapter 3. The picture painted there is that we serve, we build with either wood, hay and straw or with gold, silver, and precious stones. The quality of our work for God is tested as fire would test those materials. Only the gold, silver and precious stones will survive. That is, only those things done from a character in the Beatitudes and in true faith survive the test and are rewarded by Christ. In every moment, in every opportunity, as those in the kingdom of heaven we have the choice to trust God, to keep His truth or not to trust Him, to break His truth. Yes, radical righteousness is important to living out the life of the kingdom and serving in the kingdom. Yes, radical righteousness is essential to kingdom living. 8
Conclusion The Westminister Catechism tells us that the chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. Well and truly said. Yes, our chief purpose to truly glorify God so then we can and do enjoy him always, forever. As believers, that is our desire. Question: How s it going? How are we doing? Perhaps you ve thought that God has saved you, but this Christian life stuff is way too hard as you try on your own. Or perhaps you aren t as focused on hungering and thirsting for righteousness, living righteously as you should be. Evaluate where you are in these next moments. Thank God that He provides the righteousness you need in Christ. Thank Him that He is more than able to make you more and more like Jesus no matter what the past was like, what the present is like, and give you His peace and joy along the way. Confess, clear up trying to do it on your own, or being complacent, not actively pressing on to growth. 1 Fishing The Abyss. Seven Types of Pharisees. <http://www.fishingtheabyss.com/archives/116>. 22 February 2017. Accessed 09 October 2017. 2 Isaiah 40:8; compare 1 Peter 1:15. 3 John 14:6. 4 Cal Thomas. Why criticize Harvey Weinstein? 2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC. <http://calthomas.com/columns/harvey-weinstein>. 09 October 2017. Accessed 10 October 2017. 5 Isaiah 40:8; compare 1 Peter 1:15. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. 9
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV ), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. 2017, Lyle L. Wahl 10