What is the meaning of Matthew 5:20? For I tell you Jesus opens with a personal declaration, underscoring His divine authority. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount He contrasts “you have heard” with “but I say to you,” establishing Himself as the final word on righteousness (Matthew 7:29; Mark 1:22). His “I tell you” is not advice; it is a verdict from the King. When Christ speaks, hearers are accountable (John 8:31-32). Unless your righteousness The word “unless” introduces a non-negotiable condition. Righteousness is the moral perfection God requires (Isaiah 64:6; Romans 3:10). Jesus is not discussing mere improvement but a totally different kind of righteousness—one that reaches the heart (Matthew 5:6; Proverbs 4:23). Key implications: • Self-generated goodness is insufficient. • A new standing before God is needed (Romans 3:21-22). • This righteousness must be personal and practical, not theoretical. Exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees The scribes and Pharisees were considered the gold standard of religious observance: • Masters of law-keeping, fasting, tithing, and public prayer. • Meticulous about outward compliance (Matthew 23:5). Yet Jesus exposed their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:27-28). Their righteousness was: – External: rules without heart. – Self-exalting: performance for applause. To “exceed” them, righteousness must be: • Internal—springing from a transformed heart (Jeremiah 31:33; Matthew 12:35). • Christ-centered—received by faith, not earned (Philippians 3:7-9; Galatians 2:16). • Fruit-bearing—expressed in obedience that flows from love (James 2:17-18; John 14:15). You will never enter the kingdom of heaven Entrance is impossible without true righteousness. Jesus’ words echo His later statement, “You must be born again” (John 3:3-5). Two realities emerge: • Salvation is by grace through faith in Christ, who provides the righteousness we lack (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:8-10). • That grace produces practical holiness; without it “no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). Mere profession, like that of many Pharisees, falls short (Matthew 7:21-23). summary Matthew 5:20 proclaims that kingdom entry requires a righteousness far deeper than meticulous rule-keeping. Outward religion fails; only the righteousness Christ provides—received by faith and evidenced in obedient living—meets God’s standard. |
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