By Brother Rowland Kelvin
“For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” As Jesus contrasts the righteousness of the Kingdom with the traditional interpretation of the Law, He issues a strong warning to those who hope to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
The Scribes and the Pharisees were known to “say and do not” (Matthew 23:1-4). They often taught the commandments to the people, but they did not practice what they taught. In other words, they taught, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Jesus said these hypocrites’ only purpose for teaching was “to be seen of men” (Matthew 23:5-7). They even wore richly embroidered and paneled religious garments to emphasize their prominence over the other worshipers. The Pharisees, in particular, delighted in being greeted by pompous titles of honor.
Question: Does this sound like any religious leaders today? Do we know of religious leaders who have “neglected the weightier matters of God’s law: justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23-24) while tying heavy burdens of ruinous financial responsibilities, rigorous personal sacrifices, and relentless verbal lashings meant to cause shame and guilt? These false preachers only want to “shut the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces” (Matthew 23:13), not realizing that the Heavenly door closed for them long ago because of their heresies and pomposity. Christ says anyone who “exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12).
Such religious leaders are also “lovers of money” (Luke 16:13-15). “Mammon” is their god! We see such “prosperity preachers” today with their “mega churches” with their mega-contributions. Such preachers live in the lap of luxury, most of the time without the knowledge of their faithful membership. These “blind guides” have the same “righteousness” as the Scribes and Pharisees who were always “straining out the gnat and swallowing a camel” (Matthew 23:24). These religious leaders of yesterday and today “appear righteous to others, but within [they] are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” (Matthew 23:28).
So why does Jesus admonish us to have righteousness that exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees? It should be obvious by now it is because Christ-like righteousness demands more than surface deeds! Our hearts, souls, and minds must be completely devoted to righteous living whether anyone is watching us or not! We are told in 1 John 3:18, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” Therefore, christians must keep their private lives as righteous as their public appearances and professions, especially those who serve as preachers, elders, and deacons. Mark 4:22 teaches, “For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither [is] anything kept secret, but that it should come abroad.”
But, how can we keep our righteousness consistent with Jesus’ demands? After all, we are fallible humans, tempted by Satan’s pleasures. It is possible through the grace of God which we receive when “we confess our sins, [because] He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Think about it…. 
