Title: More Righteous (1)
Series: A Change Of Heart
Author: Jeff Strite
Text: Matthew 5:20-48
A man was telling about being a student at the University of Southern California, and he and his friends worked hard to earn their PhDs, because they wanted to be would allowed to hold the coveted title of "doctor". Then, one day one of their professors told about a friend of his who'd called his home and asked if the "doctor" was in. The professor's 10-year-old answered the phone & replied, "Well, yes... but he's not the kind that can do you any good."
Today, we're going to read about a group of men who had the titles. They were men of importance and prominence in Israel. They were like the PhDs who were called "doctor"... but they didn't have TITLES that could do you any good.
In our text today Jesus tells his audience (in the Sermon on the Mt) that "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20
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Now, that's kind of an odd thing for Jesus to say, because Jesus really didn't like the Pharisees all that much. There's a famous passage from Matthew 23:27-28 where Jesus says "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I mean, at one point in our passage it would seem that Jesus is praising the Pharisees, but then, in the passage in Matthew 23, He's condemning them as hypocrites and white-washed tombs. What's the deal?
Well - it helps to understand that the Pharisees were respectable religious leaders in Israel. The Pharisees were major teachers and leaders in the synagogues (which were kind of like the churches of our day). They were known for their high moral standards, and for their e ...
Series: A Change Of Heart
Author: Jeff Strite
Text: Matthew 5:20-48
A man was telling about being a student at the University of Southern California, and he and his friends worked hard to earn their PhDs, because they wanted to be would allowed to hold the coveted title of "doctor". Then, one day one of their professors told about a friend of his who'd called his home and asked if the "doctor" was in. The professor's 10-year-old answered the phone & replied, "Well, yes... but he's not the kind that can do you any good."
Today, we're going to read about a group of men who had the titles. They were men of importance and prominence in Israel. They were like the PhDs who were called "doctor"... but they didn't have TITLES that could do you any good.
In our text today Jesus tells his audience (in the Sermon on the Mt) that "unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20
Customize this sermon
Now, that's kind of an odd thing for Jesus to say, because Jesus really didn't like the Pharisees all that much. There's a famous passage from Matthew 23:27-28 where Jesus says "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE? I mean, at one point in our passage it would seem that Jesus is praising the Pharisees, but then, in the passage in Matthew 23, He's condemning them as hypocrites and white-washed tombs. What's the deal?
Well - it helps to understand that the Pharisees were respectable religious leaders in Israel. The Pharisees were major teachers and leaders in the synagogues (which were kind of like the churches of our day). They were known for their high moral standards, and for their e ...
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