Exceeding Righteousness

Date: 8 July 2007
Speaker: Pastor Kong
Venue: City Harvest Church

Matthew 5:20
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

The righteousness of the Pharisees was external obedience, a rigid conformity to the letter of the Law. The righteousness that Jesus wants is much deeper, it is the inward righteousness of the heart, mind and motives.

The scribes and Pharisees were trying to "relax" and reduce the moral demands of God's commandments. Restricting the commandments and extending the permissions of the law. All Jesus was trying to do, is to restore the integrity of the law.

Radical Truthfulness

Psalm 76:11
Make vows to the Lord your God, and pay them; Let all who are around Him bring presents to Him who ought to be feared.

An oath has to do with a person's future action. A vow has to do with objects and their use.

Numbers 30:2
If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

Do not be flippant in the holy things of god. Do not say anything unless you have sincerely thought it through.

Oath-taking is permitted. But do not make swearing or oath-taking a normal part of your everyday conversation.
Non-retaliative Love

Love for the one who is evil, and love for our enemy.

God had established the courts of law, so that noone would take personal revenge. The Principle of Retribution is in Matthew 5:38.

Matthew 5:38
“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

Our relationships with one another are to be based on love, not justice. The New Testament teaches us to resist the Devil but not to resist the person who wrongs you. Our response when being wronged, must never be retaliation or revenge.

When you are insulted, forgive and show grace! When you are bullied and persecuted, forgive and show grace! When you are publically humiliated, forgive and show grace!

Matthew 5:40
If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

Matthew 5:41
And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

1 Peter 2:21,23
For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps.. who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously;

"We are to be the anvil when bad men are the hammers." -Charles Spurgeon

Romans 12:17-21
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Active Love

Leviticus 19:17-18
‘You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

The scribes and Pharisees were teaching "limited" love, but what Jesus wanted was "unlimited" love. Love your enemies, bless your enemies, do good to your enemies, pray for your enemies.

The calling of the Christian is to outstrip the non-Christians in virtue.

Matthew 5:46-47
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

Our righteousness must exceed the scribes' and Pharisees'.

Matthew 5:20
For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Our love must surpass the Gentiles.

Luke 10:27
So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’”

As we engage the world, we cannot be just like the world in our attitudes and motives. We have to be more!