Unless..

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

Reading this could be a relief to some of us or a tall order to others, depending on what we know about what group of people Christ is referring to.

The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish religious sect during the Second Temple period (roughly 2nd century BCE to 1st century CE). They believed in oral tradition alongside the written Torah, which they saw as equally authoritative. They emphasized strict observance of the Law and developed extensive rules and regulations to prevent accidental violations. The Pharisees believed in resurrection of the dead, angels, and divine judgment; these are doctrines not all Jewish groups accepted. They were popular among the common people and had influence in synagogues throughout Judea and Galilee.

The Pharisee in Jesus’s parable boasted: “I fast twice a week” (Luke 18:12). This went far beyond the Law’s requirement which was only one fast per year was mandated (Day of Atonement, Leviticus 23:27). The Pharisees voluntarily fasted on Mondays and Thursdays, traditions later codified in the oral law. Jesus acknowledged their practice when John’s disciples asked: “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?” (Matthew 9:14). “I give tithes of all that I get” (Luke 18:12). Jesus confirmed they tithed meticulously on even the smallest herbs:
“You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin” (Matthew 23:23). Mind you, the law required tithing on grain, wine, oil, and livestock (Leviticus 27:30-32). The Pharisees extended this to everything, including garden herbs.

So, the Pharisees were the religious insiders. They knew the scriptures. They prayed. They fasted. They tithed. They taught in the synagogues. By every external measure, they were the most devout people in Israel. In our text, Jesus wasn’t condemning their zeal for the Law, but rather their externalized, performance-based righteousness. He challenged the notion that meticulous rule-following and public displays of piety were sufficient.

Jesus condemned Pharisees outward show without inward reality: “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.” Matthew 23:27. Christ said they have embrase human rules over divine intent. “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Mark 7:8. The group saw themselves as superior to “sinners”: “The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.'” Luke 18:11

Sadly Christ said they were gatekeeper that are going no where. “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” Matthew 23:13

Kay Alli