SermonIndex Audio Sermons
SermonIndex - Promoting Revival to this Generation
Give To SermonIndex
Discussion Forum : Articles and Sermons : How Our Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Scribes and Pharisees-Matthew Henry

Print Thread (PDF)

PosterThread
Oracio
Member



Joined: 2007/6/26
Posts: 2094
Whittier CA USA

 How Our Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Scribes and Pharisees-Matthew Henry

"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."-Matthew 5:20

The righteousness which Christ came to establish by this rule, must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, v. 20. This was strange doctrine to those who looked upon the scribes and Pharisees as having arrived at the highest pitch of religion. The scribes were the most noted teachers of the law, and the Pharisees the most celebrated professors of it, and they both sat in Moses' chair (ch. 23:2), and had such a reputation among the people, that they were looked upon as super-conformable to the law, and people did not think themselves obliged to be as good as they; it was therefore a great surprise to them, to hear that they must be better than they, or they should not go to heaven; and therefore Christ here avers it with solemnity; I say unto you, It is so. The scribes and Pharisees were enemies to Christ and his doctrine, and were great oppressors; and yet it must be owned, that there was something commendable in them. They were much in fasting and prayer, and giving of alms; they were punctual in observing the ceremonial appointments, and made it their business to teach others; they had such an interest in the people that they ought, if but two men went to heaven, one would be a Pharisee; and yet our Lord Jesus here tells his disciples, that the religion he came to establish, did not only exclude the badness, but excel the goodness, of the scribes and Pharisees. We must do more than they, and better than they, or we shall come short of heaven. They were partial in the law, and laid most stress upon the ritual part of it; but we must be universal, and not think it enough to give the priest his tithe, but must give God our hearts. They minded only the outside, but we must make conscience of inside godliness. They aimed at the praise and applause of men, but we must aim at acceptance with God: they were proud of what they did in religion, and trusted to it as a righteousness; but we, when we have done all, must deny ourselves, and say, We are unprofitable servants, and trust only to the righteousness of Christ; and thus we may go beyond the scribes and Pharisees.


_________________
Oracio

 2014/5/27 16:14Profile









 Re: How Our Righteousness Must Exceed That of the Scribes and Pharisees-Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry writes.....

"They minded only the outside, but we must make conscience of inside godliness. They aimed at the praise and applause of men, but we must aim at acceptance with God: they were proud of what they did in religion, and trusted to it as a righteousness; but we, when we have done all, must deny ourselves, and say, We are unprofitable servants, and trust only to the righteousness of Christ; and thus we may go beyond the scribes and Pharisees."


I have seen this so many times. There are those who are taken up with the outward appearance and judge others because of it. And of course this line sums it all up and makes it much easier to discern "They aimed at the praise and applause of men, but we must aim at acceptance with God: they were proud of what they did in religion, and trusted to it as a righteousness;" While all the time claiming the exact opposite.......bro Frank

 2014/5/27 16:21
sermonindex
Moderator



Joined: 2002/12/11
Posts: 39795
Canada

Online!
 Re:

Quote:
They minded only the outside, but we must make conscience of inside godliness.



Amen.


_________________
SI Moderator - Greg Gordon

 2014/5/27 16:48Profile
PaulWest
Member



Joined: 2006/6/28
Posts: 3405
Dallas, Texas

 Re:

Think a moment about outside versus inside. We can draw a parallel with above ground versus underground. Above the ground we see rocks, mountains, trees, sand. Nice to look at, but nothing of real worth compared to what's below the ground: gemstones, gold, diamonds. Where our heart is is where the treasure exists. Man doesn't look at the heart; he looks instead at the pretty trees and polished rocks adorning the surface - the outer cup, in other words.

But God looks at the hidden man of the heart. The surface of the mountain is important to the world. A majestic mountain, in the eyes of men and women, must be forest-green lush. There must be abundant mountain streams and cascading waterfalls; nobody on vacation cares what's below the ground at a national forest.

Mine shafts are usually pretty ugly on the outside. So was the original tabernacle in the second half of Exodus! Ugly, dingy badger skins adorned the outside of the tent; inside, however, hung the beautiful tapestries and gold and bronze.


_________________
Paul Frederick West

 2014/5/27 19:21Profile





©2002-2024 SermonIndex.net
Promoting Revival to this Generation.
Privacy Policy