The righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees was the self perceived belief that they were obtaining right to Salvation based on conformance to Law and by merit of their Abraham ancestry.
We know this side of the Cross that this is impossible for man, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We, in Christ have His impuded (credited) Righteousness as a Gift of His Grace.
Ken well said. I might add the Pharisee Jews also were condemned of Jesus for their hypocrisy.
Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Matthew Chapter 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake [it] not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade [them] not beware of the LEAVEN leaven of bread, but of the DOCTRINE doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the HYPOCRITES hypocrites do in the SYNAGOGUES synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. ...ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
The Pharisee Jews would talk the talk and not walk the walk.
Matthew 23:4 For they (Pharisees) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Edna, Matthew 5:20 speaks of this. The Scribes & Pharisees mentioned here were a part of the Jewish leadership who were well studied in the Law & the Prophets & generally laid down the law for the people & enforced them. The Pharisees in particular, were so meticulous in their knowledge (i.e. 'crossing every T & dotting every I'), that they also imposed their own set of rules upon the people & made the law more burdensome to them. Jesus implied this when He said: "Take MY yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For MY yoke is easy, and MY burden is light." ( Mt 11:29,30); meaning, that Jesus' commandments (from God) were not like the heavy burden & yoke imposed by the Pharisees, to which the people found unbearable.
So, these religious leaders prided themselves in their knowledge of the Law & their authority to impose it, as well as their extra laws upon the people. They also loved to be seen by others & receive the praises of the people, etc. (you can read all about it in Mt 23). Jesus, in Mt 5:20, references these ungodly traits & acts by these leaders by telling his disciples, 'don't behave like those Jewish leaders who think themselves as the epitomy of righteousness, but rather you must behave in the manner prescribed by God'.
The apostle Paul also speaks of this in Rom 10:1-5, saying that Israel (because of these leaders) 'have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge; being ignorant of God's righteousness & going about to establish their own righteousness'. And what was the difference between them? They were sticklers for the law & added their own laws as well. God's righteousness is based purely on Faith & that through Jesus Christ, whom the leaders rejected ( Rom 10:8-12). No one coming in the strength of the Law can be saved: only those coming in faith. See Heb 11 for a great list of Faith Heroes, who were commended for their faith in action (righteousness) that went far beyond the Law.
We know this side of the Cross that this is impossible for man, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
We, in Christ have His impuded (credited) Righteousness as a Gift of His Grace.
Have you accepted His Gift?
Blessings and Happy Father's Day all,
Ken
Luke 12:1 In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Matthew Chapter 16:11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake [it] not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
12 Then understood they how that he bade [them] not beware of the LEAVEN leaven of bread, but of the DOCTRINE doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matthew 6:2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the HYPOCRITES hypocrites do in the SYNAGOGUES synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. ...ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
The Pharisee Jews would talk the talk and not walk the walk.
Matthew 23:4 For they (Pharisees) bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
So, these religious leaders prided themselves in their knowledge of the Law & their authority to impose it, as well as their extra laws upon the people. They also loved to be seen by others & receive the praises of the people, etc. (you can read all about it in Mt 23). Jesus, in Mt 5:20, references these ungodly traits & acts by these leaders by telling his disciples, 'don't behave like those Jewish leaders who think themselves as the epitomy of righteousness, but rather you must behave in the manner prescribed by God'.
The apostle Paul also speaks of this in Rom 10:1-5, saying that Israel (because of these leaders) 'have a zeal of God but not according to knowledge; being ignorant of God's righteousness & going about to establish their own righteousness'. And what was the difference between them? They were sticklers for the law & added their own laws as well. God's righteousness is based purely on Faith & that through Jesus Christ, whom the leaders rejected ( Rom 10:8-12). No one coming in the strength of the Law can be saved: only those coming in faith. See Heb 11 for a great list of Faith Heroes, who were commended for their faith in action (righteousness) that went far beyond the Law.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Please Sign In or Register to post comments...
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?