A synopsis of the sermon delivered by the Rev. David L. Hicks at St. Paul’s Reformed Episcopal Church at the 10:30am service on Trinity VI, July 3, 2005. Please read St. Matthew 5:20-26.
“Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of God.” These words, spoken by Jesus in St. Matthew’s Gospel, carry a tremendous amount of weight. They directly speak against the notion that one is found righteous before God through a preponderance of good deeds accomplished over a lifetime. Many of the people to whom Jesus spoke centuries ago were no different from people today in their thinking about how one pleases God and has assurance of an eternity with Him. If someone does more good than bad, so the reasoning goes, then the scales tip in that person’s favor and he gains entrance into heaven. Often Jesus is credited mistakenly with teaching something like this; however, the words that we have just read make it clear that nothing could be further from the truth. He does not say, “Unless you are more righteous than evil,” but “Except your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees…”
When we consider who the scribes and Pharisees were, Jesus’ statement becomes all the more powerful. They were the strict observers of the law, and they served as examples of what it means to live an upright and holy life according to God’s commandments. They represent the best of human achievement and ability in living a moral life. Yet Jesus tells his disciples that their righteousness must exceed the standard achieved by these exemplars of holiness. I am sure they wondered how such a thing could be possible. What kind of righteousness could exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees? Jesus explains that it is a righteousness of the heart and not simply a matter of outward deeds. Having a murderous or adulterous heart is violation of God’s commandments and not just the act of murder or adultery.
If this is the case, then humanity has a problem. No one can fulfill the righteous requirements as presented by Jesus. That is why He says elsewhere in Matthew’s Gospel, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but serve and give His life a ransom for many.” If human goodness is sufficient to please God, then how can Jesus’ life be a ransom in any way? No, He gave his life a ransom, because human achievement falls short of what God requires. Jesus gives His life for us, that His righteousness may become our righteousness. What we cannot do in our moral weakness, He is able to do through the cross. By faith in Jesus, we have a righteousness that exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. It is the righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself.
Amen.
