More than Following Rules

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). People sometimes dismiss the importance of hearing God by saying that if you just do everything God commanded, you are doing God’s will. But you could do all that God explicitly commands and still not be the person God would have you be. An obsession merely with doing all God commands may be the very thing that rules out being the kind of person that he calls you to be. The watchword of the worthy servant is not mere obedience but love, from which appropriate obedience naturally flows. There is some good in the attitude of doing what we are told to do by God, which amounts to the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees. But this severely limits spiritual growth. A life of free-hearted collaboration with Jesus and his friends in the kingdom of God surpasses that righteousness.” —Dallas Willard, Hearing God Through the Year

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were known for their strict adherence to religious rules, yet Jesus calls His followers to a righteousness that goes beyond mere outward obedience. True righteousness is not about legalism or self-righteousness but about a transformed heart that seeks to honor God in every thought, action, and motive. Jesus invites us into a deeper relationship with Him, where righteousness is not just about what we do but about who we are in Him. This verse reminds us that we cannot earn our way into God's kingdom through rule-keeping alone. Instead, we need the righteousness that comes through faith in Christ, who fulfills the law perfectly on our behalf. When we surrender to Him, His righteousness becomes ours, and we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live in a way that truly pleases God—not just outwardly, but from the inside out. Let us seek a righteousness rooted in love for God and others, not mere religious duty. —DH