Matthew 5:20 NLT “But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!”
What is the meaning of the scripture?
The Pharisees, on the surface, crossed all the “T’s” and dotted the “i’s most excellently. They knew the Torah or Word of God better than us. They were very diligent in that they even made sure they even tithed the mint leaves and dill pickles. And most importantly, they knew how to pray. If they were compared to some Christians today, they would try to stand out in public, dressed in their Sunday best or posture, go up to the altar on their knees before the center of the Cross to show how they were prayer warriors. Therefore, on the surface, they were righteous within their own ranks. But Jesus warns, we must go beyond the Pharisees. It means we must be able to do at least what the Pharisees all did on the surface.
But if we are to exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, what does that mean or require? Or are we Pharisees, blind as a bat and deaf as a clogged ear with stuffed wax and unable to enter the Kingdom?
But yet, we may be at the edge of the Kingdom to obtain scraps. Healing and deliverance were available for those not in the Kingdom. Remember, the Phoenician lady said that even she should be able to eat the scraps under the table like a dog, and that equated to her daughter being delivered and healed.
Then what does a full meal feel like when in the Kingdom?
Additional Comments:
Or are scraps good enough for you because you feel you can be like the Phoenician lady who only comes to see Jesus when in need of something?
If u want to know the answer, read the scripture referenced and the context.
Senior Pastor Steve Kim
Referencing Matthew 23 also.