"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20
From this passage, two questions arise: what do "your righteousness" and the "righteousness of the Pharisees" mean?
The Pharisees believed in a work-based righteousness, which can be equated with 'all our righteousness of Isaiah 64:6, which are like filthy rages before God. On the other hand, "your righteousness" spoken of by Jesus is one that comes by grace, through faith. In essence, Jesus was saying, if your righteousness does not exceed what is generated from your human resource, it is not different from that of the Pharisees. And the only righteousness that is higher than that of the Pharisees is one that comes by faith. According to Apostle Paul, the righteousness of God is that which is revealed by faith (Romans 1:17).
Is there a chance that there are people who are in the church whose confidence for entering heaven is entirely based on their good works? For such people, it is not yet crystal clear that there is no good whatsoever in the flesh, and that nothing brought forth in the energy of the flesh can stand before God. Or maybe, they are not aware that unless their righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, they cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.
Toni
