WHAT DID CHRIST SAY WOULD DISQUALIFY US FROM ENTERING HEAVEN?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that 
of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will 
certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. 
(Matthew 5:20)

MEDITATION:
When Jesus gave His ‘Sermon on the Mount’, He made a statement 
about entering the kingdom that probably grabbed the attention of 
those assembled there, and should get our attention as well.
He spoke about the level of righteousness that qualifies us for entering Heaven.
Our righteousness must “exceed” that of the Pharisees.
So what exactly were the Pharisees like?

They substituted their own ideas of how life should be lived 
as a replacement for God’s guidelines. 
They perverted God’s instructions by concentrating on ‘self’. 
My money, my house, my reputation, my power, my morals became their religion. 
Someone else's money, house, or reputation was only important to them 
if it affected their own standing. It was truly a "me" generation.

How does that conflict with what God says?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility 
value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but 
each of you to the interests of the others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

The Pharisees had an unmerciful attitude toward anyone they considered 
“beneath them”, based on their perverted view of their exalted position.
This self-exaltation reached the point where they placed themselves above 
God, because they created their own rules and expectations to replace His. 
They honored their gift on the altar as more important than the altar itself. 

The Pharisees had convinced themselves that their salvation was automatic 
since they obeyed the laws they had created for themselves.
They saw no need for a savior 
because they had developed an attitude that they deserved salvation. 
Surely God could not deny salvation to anyone as righteous as them!

In contrast, look at the attitude of the tax collector 
who “would not even look up to heaven” (Luke 18:9-14). 
He knew he was a sinner who needed help. 
Although he was not clothed in the righteousness of the Pharisees, 
Christ could see in him a recognition that he knew he was a sinner. 
His shame and humility would make it far easier for him 
to learn and repent than the pompous, self-satisfied Pharisees.

Christ instructs us to pray in private and do our good deeds quietly 
(Matthew 6:1-8). 
We should not even let one hand know what the other is doing. 
This does not mean we blindly walk in circles, unaware of what we are doing. 
It cautions us not to pat ourselves on the back in admiration of our righteousness.

A Christian should not let his light shine to be praised by others, 
but to bring glory to the Father. 
The Pharisees acted to be seen of men and thought highly of by others, 
but true Christians live to glorify God – to deflect any attention to Him.

It is by our conduct and not our high thoughts of ourselves, 
that others may be brought to the Lord for salvation. 
We should live so that people can see from our good works 
how to live in obedience to God’s expectations of His followers. 

Good works cannot be hidden because 
they stand in stark contrast to the ways of a wicked world 
In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those 
that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever. (1 Timothy 5:25)

ACTION:
After reading about the righteousness of the Pharisees, 
does your righteousness exceed theirs?
Can the Lord see that you are following God’s rules, and not man’s?
Do you enjoy being praised by others for your righteousness, 
or do you have an attitude similar to the tax collector?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, forgive me for modifying your instructions and 
expectations to fit my desires for living. Help me to develop the
kind of righteousness You expect of me. Teach me how to think
of others more, and help me to focus on pleasing You instead of 
seeking the praise of others.”

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