19th February "unless your righteousness exceeds"

19^th February

Scripture: Matthew 5: 20-26

²⁰  For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, there is no way you will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

²¹  “You have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not murder;’ and ‘Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgement.’ ²²  But I tell you that everyone who is angry with his brother without a cause  will be in danger of the judgement. Whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing!’ will be in danger of the council. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of Gehinnom.

²³  “If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has anything against you, ²⁴  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵  Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are with him on the way; lest perhaps the prosecutor deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison. ²⁶  Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there, until you have paid the last penny.

Reflection:

"unless your righteousness exceeds". This surely is one of those passages we can take out of its context, and turn into a reason, or a list of judgement criteria, or justifications, which we can then apply to others. Particularly when they do not seem to agree with our perspectives. When we do this, perhaps we are simply demonstrating that it is we who are not yet ready to enter the Kingdom of God.

Your thoughts: