Self-righteousness has no place in the kingdom of God. As Jesus says, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” In the eyes of the people, the religious scholars and leaders seemed to be the most righteous among all Israel. And now Jesus says that their righteousness must be greater than these. The scribe and Pharisees saw their righteousness based on themselves. That by their religious observance of every festival, their appearance to the law, and their knowledge of the word of God, they would inherit eternal life. For them, their righteousness depended on what they could do and how perfectly they could do it. In their eyes, this is how they could satisfy God: by always remaining ceremonially pure, not eating with tax collectors and sinners, and keeping the Sabbath day as perfectly as possible. And because of their works, they were seen as the most righteous of people.
So when Jesus says your righteousness must surpass the scribes and Pharisees, you can imagine the shock of the people listening. How can God require righteousness greater than theirs? You see, for the Pharisees to whom Jesus was referring, they may have kept the law outwardly, but in their hearts, they did not truly love God. For they believe they can satisfy God through their actions and could show God all that they had done, and they would enter the kingdom of Heaven. Yet, righteousness is a matter of the heart. The Pharisees desired to keep the law, but they did not seek God’s mercy and forgiveness. They believed they could hold themselves up to the Ten Commandments and be declared righteous. And so do we.
Christ has not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill the law on our behalf. Therefore, we do not fear its combination, but allow the Ten Commandments, as the will of God, to shape our Christian life. Knowing that we are justified by the blood of Jesus Christ and not our own appearance to the law, we do not view the Ten Commandments as the Pharisees; however, in them, we see Christ’s will, his forgiveness, and how to walk with him.
The law has three purposes or uses in the Christian life. First, the law maintains external discipline and responsibility. The law of God is written on the hearts of all men. So, for example, when you find yourself in traffic and the person in front of you cuts you off or does something without thinking of the hazard they might have caused, it is the law that is written on our heart that causes us not to burst into instant road rage that would only make matters worse. This demonstrates Christians and non-Christians alike still have a righteous fear of the law, knowing that breaking the law could lead to punishment of one kind or another.
The second and third uses of the law applied only to Christians. For those who have been washed in the blood of the lamb and forgiven all their sins in the waters of holy baptism, righteousness before God does not rely on obedience to the law, but on faith in Jesus. We have been baptized in Christ, and his death is our death, and his resurrection is our resurrection. Our old self has been crucified with Him, that a new man in us has risen because Christ has been raised from the dead and now is ascended to the right hand of God. Therefore, our righteousness is found in Jesus Christ.
And though we are dead to sin, we still struggle against sin, the world, and satan daily. We need the second use of the law in order that we recognize our own sins and repent before God. Because of Christ, we see sin in a new light. That sin is a matter of the heart. As Jesus discusses the fifth commandment, You shall not murder. Christ adds: “But I say to you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother is liable to the council.” Jesus explains that the fifth commandment is simply not to slave your brother. It is much more than physical murder, but anger and insults harm our brother’s body and soul. How many Christians today are filled with anger and unspoken insults? The answer would be unbearable. Yet, it means that the law of God works in our hearts, calling us to repent of our sins and to cling to Jesus and His mercy and forgiveness for sinners. In this way, the law points us to Jesus and our need for a savior.
And third, as those who have put on Christ in baptism, we are called to live and to walk in the law. Since we have been liberated from the law’s commands, we are free to practice daily the law of the Lord. Christians do keep and observe the law, though not perfectly. This happens because we are in Jesus Christ. When we love God above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves, this is the Holy Spirit at work in us through the power of Christ. Even as we are still in bondage to sin, our eyes have been opened, and we follow God’s commands out of love for Christ. Without Christ, we cannot keep his word or follow his commandments.
So the times when we do avoid evil and do what is good. It is not out of fear of God’s wrath, but out of thanksgiving to God for his grace and mercy in His Son, Jesus Christ. The times when we do keep the fifth commandment of you shall not murder. When we do not become angry with those who have sinned against us. When we avoid insulting our brothers by encouraging them. When we defend him when he is wrongfully accused, or we offer our assistance when he is in bodily need. It is Christ in us who keeps the law who accomplishes his good and perfect will.
As we are still enslaved by our desires of the flesh, the law serves as our guide to live for God and not for ourselves. We are now God’s children, and because of the Holy Spirit, we desire to do what is pleasing in our Father’s eyes. Even while we are often still deceived by the world and fall into sin, it is the inner man who has been washed by the blood of Christ who does not fear but rather walks in the law of Christ.
The law is here for your good so that you may not be deceived by the Pharisees who seek their own righteousness. But the law is here to show you Christ and his righteousness. For Christ has fulfilled the law for you. He has kept every command of his father. Do not fear the law, for you cannot be justified by it. Rather incline your ear so that you may see all that Jesus has done for you upon the cross. And as his children learn his will, as Christ walks with you.
For in the blood of Jesus Christ, your righteousness is greater than that of the scribes and the Pharisees. In Christ, the law is fulfilled, and your debt is paid. So do not fear the law for one moment, but rejoice in it for the sake of Christ.
St. John's and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Parish 