Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19951126.htm

MATTHEW: JESUS AS ISRAEL'S MESSIAH AND HIS MESSIANIC KINGDOM
Part VII: Discerning True Righteousness From Religiosity
A. The True ATTITUDE Of Righteousness In Christ's Kingdom
(Matthew 5:1-12)
  1. Introduction
    1. We might think that we are righteous because we are devout. However, devoutness is not righteousness! John refused to baptize the Pharisees who came to him for baptism of repentance, claiming that their lives lacked true righteousness, Mtt. 3:5-8. This is an amazing statement in view of the fact that Jesus Himself told His men to heed the teachings of these same Scribes and Pharisees in Mtt. 23:2-3a.
    2. What, then, is true lifestyle righteousness? How do I know if I am living righteously or not?
    3. Matthew 5 begins the Sermon on the Mount that discerns real righteousness from false religiosity for us!
  2. The True ATTITUDE of Righteousness In Christ's Kingdom, Matthew 5:1-12.
    1. The Sermon on the Mount defines what Jesus and John meant by repentance in Israel in preparation for the Messianic Kingdom, cf. Mtt. 3:5-8 with 4:17 and Malachi 4:1-2.
    2. Jesus' Sermon on the Mount first focuses on right ATTITUDES of the HEART in true righteousness:
      1. When Jesus gave the famous Beatitudes, not one of them laid out distinct perimeters of specific works, but they all spoke of generalized behavior patters elicited by certain attitudes .
        1. Jesus spoke of being poor in spirit as a virtue without defining the specifics, Mtt. 5:3.
        2. He addressed the righteousness of mourning for this world's sins in a very general context, 5:4.
        3. He mentioned meekness without detailing how meek one should be, or with whom, etc., 5:5.
        4. He mentioned hungering and thirsting after righteousness without detailing specific situations, 5:6.
        5. Jesus mentioned those who were merciful in a general context, Mtt. 5:7.
        6. He said that those who were pure in heart would see God, a very general statement, Mtt. 5:8.
        7. He claimed that peacemakers were upright without detailing the proceedings, Mt. 5:9.
        8. He said that those who were persecuted for righteousness in general were blessed, Mtt. 5:10.
      2. Accordingly, God is interested in ATTITUDES of the HEART as the barometer of true righteousness.
    3. Since John refused to baptize the hypocritical Pharisees (Mtt. 3:5-8), we contrast the attitudes of righteousness in the Beatitudes with Phariseeism to discern righteousness from mere religiosity:
      1. Where the Pharisees felt self-reliant due to performing works, Jesus claimed that God's kingdom belonged to those who see their depravity, and so seek God's salvation, Mtt. 5:3 with R om. 3:19-22.
      2. Where the Pharisees were happy if things went well for themselves, truly upright people mourned whenever unrighteousness existed in the world, Mtt. 5:4.
      3. Where the Pharisees were proudly overt about their works, truly upright people were unassuming, 5:5.
      4. Where the Pharisees were content with what they thought they had achieved in being born as Jews and functioning in the dictates of the law, truly righteous people recognized their need to have God's righteousness given to them from out side of their own efforts, Mtt. 5:6; cf. Ep. 2:8-9.
      5. Where the Pharisees loved to judge, really righteous people loved showing mercy with others, Mtt. 5:7.
      6. Where the Pharisees heeded the technicalities of the law, but took advantage of others or of God's rights where the law was unclear, righteous people did what was equitable in facing such gray areas, Mtt. 5:8.
      7. Where the Pharisees valued the letter of the law at the cost of protecting human relationships, truly Godly people made solving interpersonal conflicts a priority in living, Mtt. 5:9.
      8. Where the Pharisees wormed out of being persecuted in their lifestyles, truly righteous people willingly took on the chin whatever it cost to do the will of God, Mtt. 5:10-12 vrs. Gal . 6:12b!
Lesson: The difference between religious devoutness and true righteousness begins with the heart attitude: (a) mere religiosity feeds on self-reliance, self-happiness, self-recognition, self-achievement, technical precision at the cost of harming o thers, only working within the dictates of technical guidelines to be "right", looking good even if it creates a relationship war BUT avoiding political hailstorms at all costs if it is personally costly; (b) truly upright people are concerned about others at the price of one's own welfare, and sees one's self as needing the imputed righteousness of God!