“Righteousness”

1.   Introduction: Matthew 5:20 Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees you shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven

a.   The common people thought that only the Scribes and Pharisees were holy and were going to heaven. 

b.   Scribes were legislators who developed the law and taught it to the public they also passed sentence in the courts of law

c.   Pharisees were religious leaders also.  Pharisee = separate a negative term given to them by the people.  Under the law of Moses certain things were considered unclean.  They took this to an extreme and labeled almost everything and everyone unclean

d.   Sadducees a different sect of Jews that believed there is no resurrection

e.   All were religious at the time of Christ

f.     Beatitude = blessed this word describes someone who has already gone to heaven

g.   The Beatitudes describe true righteousness and Christian Attitudes as opposed to the religion of the Scribe and Pharisees

2.   6:1 Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them otherwise you have NO REWARD with your Father who is in heaven

a.   Religion = a system of rituals and good works through which men try to earn salvation and draw attention to themselves

b.   Billy Sunday said, Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car

c.   All of these thoughts are self-deceiving

d.   Religion focuses on the outside not the inside

e.   You have to be full of Jesus and full of the Holy Spirit

f.     23:27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness

g.   We can become familiar or religious with anything

h.   religion destroys hope ultimately we know that we cannot make it to heaven on our own merit

i.     Religion glorifies man which repels people

j.     John 12:32 and if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men to myself

k.    When we glorify Jesus we will attract people

l.     His love is unconditional and is based upon the cross

m.Grace + 0 = salvation we cannot add anything to the cross

n.   People are important to God buildings and programs are important in religion

3.   Our attitude toward ourselves

a.   5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

b.   Poor in spirit = to have a correct estimation of oneself spiritually

c.   To be humble person not proud not having false humility

4.   Our attitude toward our sins

a.   5:4 Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted

b.   To be intensely saddened over our own sin

c.   5:5 Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth

d.   Gentle or Meek = Powerful yet under control speaks of submission

5.   Our attitude toward the Lord

a.   5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESSforthey shall be satisfied. 

b.   To hunger and thirst after God means to strive after God with an intense desire (passionately seek God)

c.   5:7 Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy

d.   We are to treat others the way the Lord has treated us

6.   Our attitude toward the world

a.   5:10 Blessed are you when men cast insults at you and persecute you

b.   We are to be in the world but not of it

c.   This world has nothing that will satisfy

d.   If you are a Christian there will be evidence and there will be opposition of some kind

e.   John 4:4 Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world