"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
The scribes and Pharisees were regarded by the ancient Jews as the most devoted, most spiritual, most holy of all men. Had any idolater in those days dreamed of calling a sinful man "his holiness", these men would have been in the running. They were men of such high esteem and reputation that the Jews had a saying about them - "If but two of all the world were to go to heaven, the one would be a scribe and the other a Pharisee."
The scribes and Pharisees had a form of godliness which all men could see and with which all were impressed. In so far as outward, religious righteousness is concerned, none excelled them, or even came close to equalling them. In works of piety, they made long, impressive, impassioned, almost oratorical prayers. They made them on the street corners so everyone could see how devoted they were. In works of charity, they gave alms to the poor. They always blew the trumpet so that people could see how generous they were. But they did give alms. In works of equity, they paid their tithes, before taxes mind you, on everything. In works of self-denial, they fasted twice every week, giving notice to everyone of their mortification of the flesh. In works of courtesy and hospitality, they often held banquets, never for the poor, but frequently for those who could do something for them, sometimes even for Christ and his disciples (Lk. 7:36-50).
Yet, the Lord Jesus declares that our righteousness must exceed, not equal, but exceed, the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. If it does not, we cannot be saved. Learn these three things and lay them to heart: (1) There will be no admission into heaven without righteousness (Heb. 12:14). (2) A legal, pharisaical righteousness will never be accepted by God (Isa. 64:6). (3) The only hope of any sinner being saved is through the righteousness of a divinely appointed and accepted Substitute and Representative. That Substitute and Representative is the Lord Jesus Christ, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (Jer. 23:6; I Cor. 1:30; II Cor. 5:21; Rom. 10:4).
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