Well, Jesus’ audience is now scratching their heads! After several pungent illustrations drawn from daily village life, suddenly Jesus starts talking about the Law. Why is Jesus making these statements? It’s easy for us to forget that Jesus is actually an obedient and observant Jew, wearing a simple tunic with fringes on the hem, perhaps tying small scrolls on his arms as he prays, attending synagogue regularly and discussing the Law with the teachers. Jesus observes the Jewish feasts and Jewish dietary laws. Jesus wants his audience to realize that he is not bringing in a subversive teaching that will undermine the Law but he is teaching how the Kingdom of God should operate and that when the Kingdom of God fully arrives, the Law will be fulfilled completely.
But what does Jesus mean when he says, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Is Jesus demanding that his audience struggle to observe all the minutiae that have become part of the Law during the centuries since Moses? No. In the Law of Moses, God repeatedly expresses His concern for widows, orphans, and aged parents; however, the Pharisees have perfected a whole system of observing small edicts while neglecting the fundamental spirit of the Law. Later Jesus will criticize the Pharisees for tithing spices such as dill and mint and cumin while refusing to care for their parents because they have dedicated the resources that would sustain them to the temple.
One of the keys to Jesus’ life is his continued and persistent obedience to his Heavenly Father. When Jesus speaks of the Law, he is describing the will of his Heavenly Father, not just some words on a scroll. Jesus has such love and respect for that will that he reminds his listeners that even the smallest pen strokes, the jot and the tittle, must commend respect until the Kingdom of God arrives in its completeness.
What are we missing? No matter how carefully Matthew and Luke have recorded Jesus’ teachings, what we are missing is the presence of Jesus himself. We can only imagine Jesus’ smiles, his quick wit, and the love pouring forth from his eyes as he teaches. For that experience, we must ask Jesus to reveal himself to us as we study his words.
There are some people who are so loving and good that they literally radiate God’s presence. To be in the presence of one of these people is to feel completely safe. When I was a child, I knew three exemplary men who taught Sunday School to wiggly kids and teens. Each of these men genuinely loved children and deeply loved Jesus. Each of these men faithfully taught for years, encouraging their charges to trust God and to love His Word. Proverbs 10:7 says “The memory of the righteous is blessed.”
By ourselves, there is no way that we can earn our way into heaven. But praise God, Jesus has done what we cannot do. Jesus has given himself as the ultimate blood sacrifice for our sins. If we will confess our sins and believe in Jesus, we can rest assured that our sin debt has been paid.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we confess that we are sinners and that nothing we do is good enough to earn our way into heaven. Thank You for sending Jesus to pay our sin debt for us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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