“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)
Like the Pharisees and the Scribes, our righteousness is always dubious in the eyes of Jesus. Irrespective of how people see us in the church, offices and other public place. We adorn ourselves with religious ornaments, paste scripture on our walls, place big bibles on our desks just as the Pharisees would adorn themselves with phylacteries. We are quick to judge the actions of others without necessarily considering the motives.
Sometimes the very act committed by others that we openly condemn, we are equally guilty of that offense. The only difference is that, theirs have been put under public scrutiny. But Jesus, who sees beyond the veil, knows our intent and motives. Therefore, He is not moved by our picture-perfect public disposition just like the Pharisees and the Scribes. That is why he raised the standard of righteousness to exceed that of the Pharisees and the Scribes.
Let’s analyze Matthew 5:27-28 to see how Jesus exposed the Pharisaic disposition pertaining to lust and adultery.
“You have heard that it was said (in the letter of the Law), ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY.’ But I tell you (as the Spirit of the Law) that ANYONE WHO LOOKS AT A WOMAN TO LUST AFTER HER has already COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER IN HIS HEART…” BSB, (Emphasis & Insertion mine).
Jesus who is the Word of God personified, went beyond the letters of the Law by giving the actual interpretation of the Law which is the Spirit of the Law. When it comes to adultery, like the Pharisees, we can quickly judge and condemn the culprits. Because, some of us have never dared or tried to commit adultery literary. So, it gives us the drive to easily judge the culprits. But per Jesus’ interpretation, to LUSTFULLY look at a woman, renders most of us guilty and thereby putting us both and culprits on the same pedestal.
Jesus knew that no one in his/her right senses would want to commit adultery. It was always triggered by our lustful desire which is intrinsic. Therefore, he provided the panacea for us to deal with such desire in our quest to demonstrate our kingdom righteousness in pleasing Him as our Lord and Master. Let’s consider Matthew 5: 29-30;
If your RIGHT EYE (strongest desires) CAUSES you to sin, GOUGE IT OUT AND THROW IT AWAY (kill it). It is better for you TO LOSE ONE PART OF YOUR BODY (unfulfilled desire) than for YOUR WHOLE BODY (soul) to be thrown INTO HELL (eternal damnation). And if your RIGHT HAND (strongest desires) causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away (kill it). It is better for you to lose one part of your body (unfulfilled desire) than for your whole body (soul) to depart into hell (eternal damnation). BSB, (Emphasis & Insertion mine).
In the above biblical text, He used the two parts of the body to represent desire. He consistently used a particular position for both the eye and the hand which is the ‘right’ position. The significance of the “right” position in the Jewish culture, represents strength or power. So, when He says “your right eye or right hand”, what He implies is “your strongest desire”.
Therefore, what the above scripture suggests is that, if our strongest desires cause us to sin or commit adultery, we must kill those desires before they destroy us. When we are destroyed by our illicit desires, we are positioned for eternal damnation.
Beloved, in closing, let us endeavour to kill all our illicit desires which can cost us our eternal pleasure. That five or thirty minutes of instant gratification cannot be compared to our eternal pleasure. Likewise, the temporary pain or discomfort cannot be compared to the experience of eternal damnation in Hell fire. We cannot stop the desires from coming as long we remain humans, but we can control them and extinguish them with the help of the Holy Spirit each time they pop up. With the help of the Holy Spirit, our quest for kingdom righteousness will yield good results. May God help us all.
PRAY WITH ME
Lord Jesus, I thank you this day for my life. From this day forward, I have resolved to kill every strong desire that leads me to sin. I will learn not to judge others but rather pray for them. Holy Spirit, please guide me and help me to achieve the kingdom righteous prescribed by my Lord and master Jesus Christ. This I pray in the mighty name of Jesus! Amen!
Author: REV. SOLOMON LUTTERODT
