Imagine what the NCAA basketball tournament would be like if they played with no rules. The game would be played on court without boundaries, with violations, with fouls. It would be anything but basketball.

Picture driving to work without any traffic laws. You are taking your life into your own hands as it is. Can you conceive driving without stop signs, traffic lights, and speed limits?

Recently I was at a party when I was asked what it’s like being a minister? The person asking the question continued saying, you have to go to church every Sunday. You are expected to read the Bible and pray every day. You have to forgive people instead of getting even. You have an entire congregation watching you. It must be tough.

My response was, "Funny, I thought God expected that of all people."

Jesus said,

"Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the
Scribes and Pharisee,
or in today’s world a minister and priest,
you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."

It appears that God expects more of you than he does of me.

Is this a reasonable request from Jesus? Is it fair that Jesus calls you to a greater righteousness?

Yes it is, especially, if ministers and priests repeat the sins of the scribes and Pharisees.

You ask, "what sins?" Saying, "weren’t scribes and Pharisees scrupulous in obeying the law of God? Didn’t they stand on the street corner shouting long elaborate prayers to God? Didn’t they adorn themselves in prayer clothes and stole? Didn’t they meticulously obey the law of God and advocate that everyone should?"

Yes, they did, but they also sinned. Their sin was that they were content to obey the law without allowing God to change their heart. They looked pious, but they were far from the kingdom of God. God judges our hearts as well as our deeds. You and I are to be just as concerned about our attitudes, which people don’t see, as our actions which people do see.

The Pharisees wanted legal compliance. Jesus wants love and obedience. Our goodness must come from what God does in us, not in what we can do by ourselves. Our goodness must be God centered, not self centered. Our goodness must be based on reverence for God, not approval from people. Our goodness must go beyond keeping the law to living by the principles behind it.

Jesus said,

"Unless your righteousness exceeds that of
the scribes and Pharisee you will not
enter the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus is referring to three kinds of law: ceremonial law, civil law and moral law.

Ceremonial law is related specifically to Israel worship. Do you remember reading what seemed to be some ridiculous laws in Leviticus? There were laws for burnt offerings, grain offerings, sin offerings, etc.. Which reminds me did I tell you about the new sacrificing altar which we included in our renovations?

Just joking, we didn’t install one because we don’t have to. The Jews made these offerings in order to have their sins forgiven and restore their fellowship with God. The death of Jesus accomplished that for you and me.

The ceremonial laws taught reverence to God. They demanded exact obedience. They taught submission to God’s law.

While we are no longer bound to ceremonial laws, the principles behind them still apply, namely, worship and love of God.

Civil law applied to daily life. Since modern society and culture are so radically different from the way they were in Jesus’ day, it would be ridiculous for us to live by the same civil laws as Jesus. I am sure if you went back into Milltown archives you would find ordinances about horse and buggies which are irrelevant today. That doesn’t mean we can disobey civil law. It means civil law changes, BUT you and I need to obey the law. Civil law provides order instead of chaos. They should guide our conduct.

Moral law, such as the ten commandments, is the direct command of God. It requires strict obedience. It reveals the nature and will of God. It definitely applies today.

There is a story about a sea captain who bought a farm. Throughout his fields there are white and yellow markers. A neighbor asked the old captain, "why the stakes?" He responded, "They are land buoys. They mark the rocks. This way I can avoid plowing over them in the future."

God’s moral law are like markers for us. They reveal the trouble spots and the snag points of life. When we follow God’s wisdom and steer clear of what is harmful for us, life is enjoyable and productive. This is why we should follow God’s law. Not because, I say so. We obey because they come from a loving God who only wants the best for you and me.

Jesus doesn’t want you to obey because he told you to, BUT because you love him.

"Unless your righteousness exceeds that of
the scribes and Pharisee you will not
enter the kingdom of heaven."

Their obedience was simply legal compliance. May your obedience of God’s law be caused by your love for the Lord.

Amen

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