What does it take to be a “good” person?
“I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom off heaven.” – Matthew 5:20
Can we live a life that God considers “righteous”?
Yes, not because we can do more personal improvement, but because we can improve our personal motives. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus was asking not for a broader righteousness but for one that’s deeper.
He’s calling us to righteous motives because true righteousness grows out of motives. If I keep the law by not killing, I’m still liable for destroying a life by gossip. If I love my neighbors, it’s likely good for me, but if I love my enemies, it’s likely because I’m good. The law can only manage behavior, but Jesus wants to transform our character.
Thus, Jesus told us not only to not murder, but to deal with our anger. Far more families are destroyed by gossip than homicide. Far more businesses fail through slander than manslaughter.
Jesus said that instead of focusing on not committing adultery, we should not lust; to the point he suggests we amputate our offending limbs. Obviously, this is hyperbole and not to be taken literally. Yet that doesn’t mean it should be taken lightly, particularly with pornography in everyone’s pocket.
Jesus punctuates his call to righteousness in Matthew 5 by telling us to be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (vs 48).
The word perfect indicates mature or holistic. Jesus was saying we should love holistically, maturely, and openly as God does if we want to carry out his agenda in our culture.
