Are We Righteous?
Matthew 5:20“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees
and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven”
Of the three major religious societies of Judaism at the time of the New Testament (the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes), the Pharisees were often the most vocal and influential. The name Pharisee in its Hebrew form means separatists, or the separated ones. They were also known as chasidim, which means loyal to God, or loved of God.
According to this verse in order to enter the kingdom of God our righteousness
should exceed the righteousness of Pharisees. Let us take a look at the
righteousness of Pharisees.
| Righteousness of Pharisees |
Righteousness of a Christian |
| Thou shall not kill |
We shall not even call our brethren a fool. Do not sin in
our anger |
| Do not commit adultery |
Do not even look at a women with lust because that equals
adultery |
| Keep your oaths |
Do no swear at all |
| Eye for eye, Evil for Evil |
Overcome evil with good. |
| Love your neighbors and hate your enemies |
Love your enemies |
| Announce giving to the poor with a trumpet |
Do not let your right hand know what
your left hand gives |
| Pray in the streets |
Sit in your closet and pray in secret |
| Show faces of fasting when you fast |
Do not announce your fasting |
| Convert people from religions |
Encourage people in faith |
| Give tenth of everything you have |
Tithe more than 10 percent |
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