Corvallis Community Church
7-6-25
  • Rejoice Ye Pure In Heart (Marion)
  • Grace Greater Than Our Sin
  • In Christ Alone

  • Matthew 5:20

    It is perhaps the worst deception perpetrated by Satan—of all time (and one that continues to be trumpeted)—that your salvation is dependent on your self-effort. The devil is the author is works-righteousness and you can trace every false system of faith from the beginning and they all share this same connection—that you must earn your place in heaven—or whatever lies on the other side of earthly life. What Satan offers is a perversion of what God says:
    Ephesians 2:8–9 NASB95
    8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
    Satan—who is a denier of God’s Word, He distorts it and tempts man to doubt it, he authors a different path to salvation—which is no salvation at all b/c it is a rejection of God’s grace and leads to eternal hell. In their excellent summary of cults—Rose publishing has put together a pamphlet contrasting many of the world’s religious systems with biblical Xty:
    JW— “Be baptized as JW. Most followers must earn salvation by “door-to-door” work.
    Mormonism—one is saved (exalted to godhood—for eternal life) by works, including faithfulness to church leaders, Mormon baptism, tithing, ordination, marriage, and secret temple rituals. No eternal life without Mormon membership.
    New Age—the need to offset bad karma with good karma.
    Isalm—teaches humans are basically good but fallible and need guidance. The balance b/t good and bad deeds determines one’s destiny in paradise or hell.
    Hinduism—release from cycles of reincarnation—acheived thru meditation and yoga (can take many lifetimes)
    Buddhism—the goal of life is nirvana, to eliminate all desires or cravings, and in this way to escape suffering. The 8-fold path is the system that Buddhists follow to free them from desiring anything and eventually acheiving nonexistence
    You see how grossly perverted Satan has so twisted the truth that Acts 4:12 “12 “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.””
    In the time of Jesus—the system of works-righteousness was clearly practiced by the scribes and Pharisees as they were relying on their own efforts to be righteous. This is perfectly illustrated in the Lord’s parable in Luke 18.
    Luke 18:9–14 NASB95
    9 And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’ 14 “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”
    It is the arrogance of the human heart to believe that I am capable of earning righteousness by my good works. And the devil will use that against the sinner as he propagates falsehood (of any sort) and keeps the unbeliever blinded to the truth lest he sees the light of the gospel of the glory of JC. This is what Jesus is very pointedly attacking in Mt 5:20—The belief that my salvation is linked to my effort. Jesus says “unless you righteousness…”
    The rest of the NT builds on what Jesus is teaching. Abraham (a supreme example for Pharisees) was saved by faith not by works (Rom 4:3). Paul had just expressed
    Romans 3:20 NASB95
    20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
    Galatians 3:11 NASB95
    11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”
    Galatians 3:22 NASB95
    22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
    The great purpose of the law (Scripture) was to reveal our condemnation before God so that all who believe in Christ would receive the promise by faith and not by human achievement.
    Last time, we looked at the relationship b/t the Xn and the Law. The Law of God—the eternal and unchanging moral law (perfectly fulfilled in the life of Jesus) is still the eternal measure of right and wrong. The moral law (moral will of God) is summarized in the 10 Commandments. It was further summarized by Jesus as Love God and love others. Paul would explain
    Galatians 6:2 NASB95
    2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
    We are not under the Law as to its curse (which is death)…however the believer will delight in God’s law: Romans 7:22 “22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,”
    This is the Xn’s understanding of the value of the Law. It cannot save but it does produce the knowledge of sin. By it, the HS shows men their need for Christ and drives them to Him. We are not justified by our efforts to keep the Law but we should not despise it. We should obey and teach others to do the same b/c greatness in Christ’s kingdom is measured by conformity to the law (vs 19).
    In Matt 5:20 Jesus is going to emphasize 2 foundational truths as it pertains to salvation— “entering the kingdom of heaven.”

    1. Condemning Works-Righteousness

    You cannot be saved/justified/righteous by keeping the Law (or by your efforts to keep it). Jesus will use the illustration of the scribes and Pharisees to make His point. And what He says goes completely against the beliefs and practices of the day—it would have been a total shock to those listening to Him, b/c anything other than praise for these groups was foreign to the thinking of the day.
    Earliest scribes were found only among the priests and the Levites (Ezra 7:12 Ezra is called the priest, the scribe of the law of God) These were the ones allowed to transcribe and copy the holy Scriptures. They were honored as masters of the Law (would be considered the doctorates today). And there were 2 types of scribes in biblical times: civil (notary) but they aren’t mention in the OT and ecclesiastical—these devoted themselves to the study of Scripture (which was the OT). Mark portrays the scribes as being concerned with the correct interpretation of Scripture (Mk 12:28-33) and yet Jesus challenges them on their interpretation at several points (Mk 9:11; 12:35).
    Now, the Pharisees rose up during the Maccabean era (2nd C BC). Their name is derived from the Aramaic term “to separate or distinguish”.
    The Lexham Bible Dictionary Introduction

    The Pharisees kept themselves apart both socially and theologically from aristocratic sympathizers with Hellenism and the uneducated commoners. Some were so committed to separation from Hellenism that they were willing to take up arms in defense of their beliefs, even against fellow Jews.

    It is the Pharisees that would become the primary sect of Judaism (Sadducees, Essenes) and they were the leaders and teachers of Israel (Nicodemus).
    Acts 26:5 NASB95
    5 since they have known about me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion.
    Quarles:
    Exalting Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount Jesus Believed the Scriptures Focus on the Heart and the Spirit of the Law (Matthew 5:20)

    The “scribes” (5:20) were highly trained experts in the interpretation and application of the law. They normally began their training as children and continued their studies until formal ordination at age 40. The scribes were greatly respected by most Jews of the day. When scribes walked down the streets in their distinctive robes, others would stand in their honor, greeting them with titles like “rabbi,” “father,” or “master.” Hosts typically offered the scribes the seat of honor at banquets (23:6).

    The “Pharisees” were members of a movement in Judaism that was committed to meticulous observance of the law. They particularly emphasized matters such as tithing, ritual purity, and Sabbath observance. Scribes and Pharisees belonged to two distinct groups. Serving as a scribe was a profession. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were a Jewish sect. Some scribes were Pharisees, and the Pharisees likely chose their leaders from among the scribes. The scribes and Pharisees shared in common a commitment to the study and observance of the law. (Sermon, 100–101)

    The general population held these groups in the highest esteem. Now, when Jesus says “unless…surpasses (exceeds—term means to be present overabundantly)…” He is not only affirming the standard of entering the kingdom of heaven—but He is also denouncing the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees—whose righteousness was inadequate for them to enter the kingdom of heaven. This is what was so shocking to the people listening to the Lord. They looked at the Pharisees as the paragons of religion, they were the examples of what righteousness looked like. There was a saying that if only 2 people get into heaven one would be a scribe the other a Pharisee. The regular Jew, just going about his life tried to emulate the example of the Pharisees but they realized it was so difficult to match their righteousness, let alone to exceed it.
    But thru out the ministry of the Lord He saves the severest rebuke for the religion/self-righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Mt 23 “woes”). They were hypocrites but they didn’t know it. They thought all was well—relying upon their self-effort to earn the righteousness that God accepts. The trouble of course, is there is no righteousness that God accepts apart from His own.
    Isaiah 64:6 NASB95
    6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
    What is it about the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees that was inadequate, insufficient, defective? And it isn’t just their righteousness, it is all human righteousness:

    External

    As I mentioned last week, the rabbis had taken the law of God, boiled it down to 613 precepts: 248 commandments; 365 prohibitions. It was an exacting way of life to do (to the best of your abilities) the things spelled out in the law. They were very meticulous about this—Mt 23:23 (tithe mint, dill, cummin). Being so concerned about what others saw—the external righteousness, they forgot that God was much more concerned about the heart.
    1 Samuel 16:7 NASB95
    7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
    Psalm 51:16–17 NASB95
    16 For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.
    Luke 16:15 NASB95
    15 And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.
    Mt 23:25-31
    They care a great deal about cleaning the outside of the cup, whitewashing the tomb—and as external righteousness goes—it never deals with the heart of man. Jesus says you’re really thieves, unclean, lawless, murderers. God demands transformation of the heart and this being a divine work, you cannot make yourself right with God b/c human righteousness is only concerned about the outside—it is deficient and unless your righteousness surpassess…

    Incomplete

    Mt 23:23
    Scribes and Pharisees knew the law with exacting precision. They knew to the smallest degree what it mean to keep the Sabbath. They could tell you exactly what you could do and couldn’t do, how many steps you could take on the Sabbath. But in their understanding of the Law—they also whittled it down so far and nullified much weightier matters of the Law—justice, mercy, faithfulness. Quoting Is 29:13
    Mark 7:7–8 NASB95
    7 ‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’ 8 “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”
    Jesus denounces their righteousness b/c incomplete obedience is inadequate. Matthew 5:48 “48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
    What they ended up doing is making the law’s demands—less demanding and its permissions—more permissive.

    Self-Glorifying

    Whenever a person goes about trying to establish their own goodness, righteousness—they are really seeking their own glory rather than the glory of God. The Pharisee in the Lord’s parable:
    Luke 18:11–12 NASB95
    11 “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 ‘I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.’
    God doesn’t hear that prayer—b/c its all about your own effort. What does give Him the glory is when a person is at the end of their spiritual means, totally bankrupt and they cry out for the mercy of God— “be merciful to me the sinner.” God is glorified.
    Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees…you will not enter…
    How can your righteousness exceed theirs? Self-righteousness/works-righteousness will make you fall short of entering the kingdom of heaven. Its like trying to jump over the Grand Canyon. Some people—gifted athletes, sprinters, long-jumpers—they might jump a little farther than you will. But the result will always be the same—you can’t do it.

    2) Certifying the Need For God’s Righteousness

    What you need is a righteousness that God accepts—the one He requires. If the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees is woefully inadequate—what hope is there for anyone? Well, let me just say that there is hope—and I’ll show you that hope in a moment. But first, I want to give you a picture of the righteousness God requires. It is polar opposite to self-righteousness, works-righteousness.
    It is not external, incomplete, self-glorifying.

    Inner Righteousness

    Contrary to the Pharisee’s righteousness which was external/ceremonial, God requires the righteousness that is internal. B/c the spiritual principle is this: what is on the inside will proceed to the outside.

    Perfect Righteousness

    Mt 5:48—there are no degrees of the righteousness that God requires. It is perfect or it is deficient. If you are to enter the kingdom of heaven, you have to be as perfect as the King.

    Impossible Righteousness

    Romans 3:10–20 NASB95
    10 as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; 11 There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; 12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood, 16 Destruction and misery are in their paths, 17 And the path of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; 20 because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.
    Romans 3:21–22 NASB95
    21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;
    Galatians 2:16 NASB95
    16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.
    It is a reasonable question that is asked “how can a person be saved?” This is such an impossible righteousness—Jesus even said after the exchange with the rich young ruler:
    Matthew 19:23–26 NASB95
    23 And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 “Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26 And looking at them Jesus said to them, “With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
    The best part of what the Lord is saying there is that you can’t save yourself. You can’t make yourself righteous. There’s no amount of self-effort, there’s no amount of good outweighing the bad…what you need is the righteousness God requires and what God requires—God provides/gives.
    Romans 8:4–5 NASB95
    4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
    2 Corinthians 5:21 NASB95
    21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
    1 Corinthians 1:30 NASB95
    30 But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,
    Romans 10:4 NASB95
    4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
    Romans 4:3 NASB95
    3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”
    Galatians 3:11 NASB95
    11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”
    Galatians 3:24 NASB95
    24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
    It is by faith that you are justified—simply means that God gives you the righteousness that He requires when you believe on the LJC. You can see what it means to reject this righteousness by working hard to get to heaven. It is an affront to the grace of God, an attack on the Son of God who laid down His life as a substitutionary atonement that by His self-less love we might become the righteousness of God—that which He requires.
    Is it any wonder that Paul explains his own perspective of what he wants in Phil 3?
    Philippians 3:7–11 NASB95
    7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, 9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
    This is the righteousness that you need. For if you do not have this— “you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” This is an earnest warning against all self-efforts to produce in you the righteousness that God requires—you can’t. But there is also the great hope of the promise of God—this righteousness is given (for by grace you have been saved—just like Abraham) to those who believe on the LJC. Many of you have this righteousness put on your account b/c you trust Jesus alone for salvation. But if you haven’t, and you’re trusting in your own efforts to secure your place in heaven: Jesus says “you will not enter.” Hear the good news and put your trust in the Savior today!

      • Ephesians 2:8–9NASB95

      • Luke 18:9–14NASB95

      • Romans 3:20NASB95

      • Galatians 3:11NASB95

      • Galatians 3:22NASB95

      • Galatians 6:2NASB95

      • Acts 26:5NASB95

      • Isaiah 64:6NASB95

      • 1 Samuel 16:7NASB95

      • Psalm 51:16–17NASB95

      • Luke 16:15NASB95

      • Mark 7:7–8NASB95

      • Luke 18:11–12NASB95

      • Romans 3:10–20NASB95

      • Romans 3:21–22NASB95

      • Galatians 2:16NASB95

      • Matthew 19:23–26NASB95

      • Romans 8:4–5NASB95

      • 2 Corinthians 5:21NASB95

      • 1 Corinthians 1:30NASB95

      • Romans 10:4NASB95

      • Romans 4:3NASB95

      • Galatians 3:11NASB95

      • Galatians 3:24NASB95

      • Philippians 3:7–11NASB95

  • When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
  • When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Corvallis Community Church
ccc@corvalliscommunitychurch.org
406-961-3443
http://www.corvalliscommunitychurch.org
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