““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 (Emphasis mine)
When Jesus emphatically declared his position in regards to the law, he used the righteousness of Pharisees and the Scribes as the benchmark. Was that a positive or a negative remark, knowing Jesus always had issues with them? Before we proceed further, let us try to know who they were and demystify why Jesus would use them as the standard.
The Pharisees formed the largest and most influential religious-political party in New Testament times. The name “Pharisee” means “separated one.” The Pharisees separated themselves from the society to study and teach the law, but they also separated themselves from the common people, because they considered them religiously unclean. The Pharisees were generally respected by the masses because of their PIETY.
The Scribes on the other hand, had knowledge of the law and could draft legal documents such as contracts for marriage, divorce, loans, inheritance, mortgages, the sale of land, and the like. Every village had at least one scribe. They were highly respected for their INTELLECTUALISM. Sometimes some Scribes also double as Pharisee or vice versa.
Because of their influence as religious and political leaders, the masses considered them as role models. As a matter of fact, one cannot do anything in their towns or villages without their assistance. Their moral uprightness was considered as unparalleled by the masses. But the underlining issue they had which no one had an idea of, was their hypocrisy. Jesus knew them from their heart perspective. They were practical examples of “signboard believers”. They knew the Law, they teach the Law, yet they will never practice them. That is why Jesus’ statement in the above text, He referred to them in setting the standards for Kingdom righteousness but He used a small clause to raise the bar. And the clause was “shall EXCEED THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES,”
Jesus’ recommendation for Kingdom righteousness was too high for people to attain since they believed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees were unparalleled. This is what precipitated the revelation of the spirit of the Law. All that the Scribes and the Pharisees did was to over-emphasize on the letter, traditions and interpreted the Law to their advantage at the blind side of the masses.
When it comes to the issue of righteousness, like the Scribes and Pharisees we only focus on outward sin. The sin that can easily be seen by others that is our point of reference. Therefore, Jesus raised the bar for us not only focus on the outward but the inner as well. By raising the bar, He exposed the hypocrisy which was in intrinsic in most of us just like the Scribes and the Pharisees. As believers we can easily identify sinners, judge and condemn them without even noticing the sins we commit within our hearts known as iniquity. Let’s consider Matthew 5:21;
“You have heard that our ancestors were told (in the letters of the law), ‘You MUST NOT MURDER. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are EVEN ANGRY WITH SOMEONE, you are subject to judgment! If you CALL SOMEONE AN IDIOT, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you CURSE (verbally abuse) someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. NLT, (Emphasis & Insertion mine).
From the above biblical text, Jesus referred to the Law pertaining to murder and also gave the interpretation.
Like the Pharisees, our public disposition clearly shows we are innocent when it comes to murder. Simply because we haven’t literary killed anybody. So, in the eyes of the masses, we are clean. But what we fail to notice is that, the interpretation of the Law, which is the spirit condemns us and puts us on the same standard of judgement as literary committing murder when we are angry with someone. What can make one commit murder or verbally abuse someone if not precipitated by anger?
Anger is intrinsic. It is not visible. Because it brews from the heart. They only way we can see it is by the way we express it. We can sometimes be angry but will never express it outwardly, simply because of the environment in which we find themselves. We learned to control it but have not mastered how to control its catastrophic effects. We may not react, but that feeling culminates to unforgiveness and bitterness which still places us on the same murder scale.
Beloved, in our quest to attain kingdom righteousness, we must be able to control our anger and try to forgive in order to save ourselves from being counted among the murderers in the sight of our Lord and Master Jesus Christ. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being angry because we sometimes cannot avoid it, since we are emotional beings. But there is everything wrong with it, if the reaction develops into something evil. Let us try to rise above the Scribes and Pharisaic level of righteousness and become shining examples to the world as our Lord and Master Jesus Christ would have us do.
In closing, let us ponder on the words of Apostle Paul in relation to today’s subject;
“BE ANGRY, YET DO NOT SIN.” Do not let THE SUN SET UPON your anger…”, Ephesians 4:26, BSB (Emphasis mine)
PRAY WITH ME
Lord Jesus, I thank you this day for my life. From this day forward, I have resolved to control my anger by not letting it to develop into a catastrophic consequence. I will learn to forgive even if it hurts. Holy Spirit, please guide me and help me to achieve this. This I pray in the precious name of Jesus! Amen!
Author: REV. SOLOMON KWAME LUTTERODT