Beyond Rituals

 

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:20).

 

Some of Jesus’ harshest remarks were directed to the Pharisees. At the outset, this seems unusual, as they had every appearance of righteousness, and were generally admired by the public at large as being righteous, more so than any other group of their day. Most at that time would have said it would have been very hard to do better in living righteously than the Pharisees. It just goes to show, sometimes we need to look deeper.

 

Jesus was direct and forceful in His remarks to the Pharisees, because the public persona they portrayed was just an appearance, far different from their inner character. He described them as hypocrites, because their righteous appearance was an act. They behaved quite differently when they were out of the sight of others. The motives of their hearts were as sinful as the people they condemned. “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” (Matt. 23:27-28). In reality, they created their own righteousness, but it wouldn’t commend them to God. He wanted something better for them.

 

Pretending to be what you’re not has always been easy for people to do, compared to making real changes from within. How many people just go through the motions at their jobs, or school, or in their relationships with others? Changing the mind and heart, which changes our motives and actions, now that’s the challenge!  Although the sect of the Pharisees has long ceased to exist, their attitude is too easily duplicated today. For some, there is no problem acting holy on Sunday, but living worldly the rest of the week. Externals are important, but they must come from a genuine heart, from pure motives.

 

As Christians, we are challenged to examine the motives of our hearts. Our profession must be consistent with our confession. The term Jesus used for surpass means to be more abundant, conspicuous or distinguished. Pretending to be righteous was not enough. They were to be genuinely righteous, to seek God truly, sincerely. While people do sin, to desire a real relationship with God, to seek righteousness, one will desire and seek repentance and renewal.

 

What Jesus was teaching the crowds, and us today, is one must not “play act” faith. it must be genuine and real, otherwise our righteousness is no different than that of the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. God knows the motives of our hearts; He knows the difference.  “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered” (Rom. 6:17).  It’s easy to be complacent, but takes real commitment to be willing to examine ourselves and make course corrections in our lives. Since God knows our hearts, we do best when we meekly seek His righteousness.

 

μαράνα θᾶ (1 Cor. 16:22)

Robert