Yeshua said, ‘Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the Pharisees, you shall in no wise enter the Kingdom of Heaven’ (Matt. 5:20).

Yesterday we made a distinction between the two different types of righteousness. Those that are orchestrated by man outside of the Word for self-justification, which cannot justify any man in the sight of Elohim (Gal. 2:16) and those that are lived in obedience to the standard of righteousness laid out in Scripture, which do justify men in the sight of Elohim (Rom. 2:13). When Yeshua identifies the righteousness as personal, He wants us to know that to whatever standard we submit, that standard becomes our righteousness (Gen. 30:33; Deut. 6:25; 1 Sam. 26:23; Job 29:14; Psa. 18:20; Rom. 6:16; etc.).

Simply put, no man is in any position to justify himself with his own standard of righteousness. Fortunately, Yahweh has delivered us from our own self-justifying standard of righteousness through His righteousness (Psa. 71:2) so that we can show forth His righteousness through our words and actions (Psa. 71:15, 16, 19, 24; Rom. 8:3,4). These are the righteous actions of the saints responsible for making our wedding garments (Rev. 19:7,8). The Torah, is Yahweh’s instructions of righteousness (Isa. 51:7; Deut. 6:23-25) and he that does righteousness is righteous even as Yeshua is righteous (1 John 3:7)! Whether we look at the TaNaKh/OT or the Apostolic writings of the NT, the truth is never changing. Man is 100% incapable of producing a righteousness to justify himself in the sight of Yahweh Elohim. Once we have been justified, through Messiah Yeshua, we are now responsible for living that standard of righteousness to shine His light to the world (Matt. 5:16, 17).

The Pharisees lived out the type of righteousness that can only be identified as ‘filthy rags’ righteousness, the man-made type that nullifies the commandments of Elohim. Now we have some new light to help us understand why Yeshua said that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees in order to enter the basileia (Rule and Reign) of Heaven.

The calendar New Year is upon us. Reflections upon 2015 and resolutions for 2016 are in hearts and minds. With hindsight we can all look back and recognize our filthy rags (Isa. 64:6) as well as our righteous actions that pleased Him (Heb. 11:6) and displayed our love for Him (John 14:15).

May Yahweh bless you and keep you as your life conforms to the image of Him, Who is the Living Word!

Shalom,

Alan