Scripture to Read: Matthew 5:20
Jesus desires us to be “doers” of His Word as we examined Matthew 5:19. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus went on to say, “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus told his disciples and us that being a “doer” has to go deeper than just the outward appearance of “good works.” Jesus mentions the scribes and Pharisees because in their outward appearance they would have seemed like incredible “doers” of God’s commands. The problem with the scribes and Pharisees is that they only did what they did to impress those who saw them. Jesus gives a great example of this in Luke 18:11–14, “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get. ’13 But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner! ’14 I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Notice how the Pharisee bragged to God about what he did, as if God needed to know. God hates the prideful heart. We must humbly serve our King so our “doing” honors Him alone.
Challenge & Application
· Why is God not impressed with people who do “good works” while their heart is still prideful and selfish?
· How must we serve our Lord each day, and how can we help other Christians to do the same?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!