Warriors Arise: November 5, 2023
Matthew 5:20 "For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
The original is always more valuable than the copy. Is Jesus telling the people they have to be better, more righteous than the scribes and Pharisees? The scribes and Pharisees were practically revered at holy just for their position. I can imagine this really puzzled the people.
By this time, the Pharisees were mostly the upper ruling class of Israelites. Most Israelites did not seek after a position like this or have time to give to being trained as a Pharisee. However, Jesus isn't saying they were to be like the Pharisees, He was sharing with them that they were to exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees.
Jesus address the Pharisees a number of times in the three years He was demonstrating God's love through the miraculous and teachings. He wanted them to understand God wasn't about all the laws the Pharisees had put in place and their misguided teachings from them. He wanted the people to know the original words of the prophets and laws are what His Father wanted lived.
Jesus was bringing freedom to the people. The people knew they had to honor the Pharisees for the position they held, but they also knew many of the Pharisees were not following their own teachings and interpretations of Scripture. When combining verse 19 and 20, Jesus is pointing out that the Pharisees were teaching people one way and living another way. Many were not following their own restricted teachings.
Jesus using the words, "unless your righteousness exceeds," is almost as if He is calling the Pharisees to examine themselves. We cannot be righteous when we are teaching the things of God but our own life is not following what we are teaching.
We have to get back to the original Word of God and live according to the understanding God has given each one of us. This is the righteousness that would exceed the Pharisees. I do not need to follow a copy that barely looks like the original. I need the original.
Father, I do not want to live a life based on a copy. Especially, a copy that doesn't even look like the original. I want to be living my life based on Your original Word. I position myself before You, to receive from Your Word. I desire accurate understanding and application. I pray my life, words and actions would align with Your word and ways for me. I pray when I speak and teach that I am living out what I teach and encouraging others to follow You with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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