In Matthew 5:20, Jesus declares, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” This statement was not merely a call to moral excellence but a declaration of the standard by which one is deemed worthy of entering the kingdom of God. Jesus was establishing a minimum requirement—one that cannot be met by manipulating God’s commands for personal glory.
1. The Minimum Standard for Heaven – unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees
The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was built on outward displays of piety. They fasted, prayed, and gave to the poor—but always in public, always for recognition. Their actions were designed to elevate themselves rather than to glorify God. In doing so, they inadvertently admitted that they did not truly believe in a God who rewards those who follow His commands in faith. They did not live as though God was sovereign; instead, they sought the immediate, fleeting rewards of human admiration.
Jesus’ statement in Matthew 5:20 exposes this fundamental flaw. The minimum requirement for heaven is not meticulous rule-following for self-gain but a recognition that every command of God is a declaration of His existence and sovereignty. To obey God truly is to trust that He is the source of all reward, even when obedience seems counterintuitive from a worldly perspective.
2. God’s Commands Declare His Sovereignty
Consider the example of giving to charity. To the natural man, generosity makes little sense—money represents security, and giving it away diminishes one’s material stability. But Jesus calls His followers to give freely, not for personal accolades, but because they trust in God’s provision. If God truly exists and rewards those who obey Him, then self-sacrificial giving is not irrational—it is wisdom.
The same principle applies to all of Jesus’ teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. Turning the other cheek, loving enemies, and seeking the kingdom first are not strategies for self-preservation. They are commands that only make sense if there is a God who upholds His promises. To live according to these teachings is to demonstrate faith in a God who reigns and rewards.
3. The Call to Seek True Righteousness
At the most fundamental level, Jesus is calling people to seek after righteousness, to pray for righteousness, and to pray for God’s presence in their lives. This is why He declares, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10) and “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me” (Matthew 5:11). Jesus is saying that He Himself is righteousness. What we are truly seeking is Him—to change our hearts so that we can follow His commands through the power of the Holy Spirit.
unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
When we act out of our own power to follow the law, we act in sin, just like the scribes and Pharisees. This is why Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount with the chilling words: “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:23). The ultimate measure of righteousness is faith in God, which can only be achieved through a relationship with Him. True righteousness is not about following rules for personal gain but about knowing Christ and being transformed by His Spirit.
4. The Failure of the Scribes and Pharisees
The scribes and Pharisees fell short because they followed the letter of the law while rejecting the God behind it. They fasted in public, prayed for show, and gave to the poor in a way that ensured admiration. Their righteousness was hollow because it was self-serving. True righteousness—righteousness that surpasses theirs—is one that is born out of faith, not manipulation.
Jesus’ words make it clear: heaven is not for those who use God’s commands to glorify themselves. It is for those who recognize that every command is an opportunity to acknowledge and honor God as the sovereign ruler. The righteousness that grants entrance into the kingdom is not performance-based but faith-driven.
5. The Call to True Righteousness
When Jesus said, “unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, he was not singling them out for being the worst of humans. Instead, he was calling them out as typical humans who are operating out of a flesh nature rather than a renewed God-nature.
Every command of Jesus challenges the logic of self-preservation. Without faith, His teachings seem like foolishness. But for those who believe, obedience to His words is the path to eternal life. The standard Jesus sets is simple: stop living for personal glory and start living to reflect the reality of God’s kingdom.
unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Only when we acknowledge that God is in control, trust in His rewards, and obey with sincerity will our righteousness surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees. And only then will we meet the minimum standard for heaven.
6. A Call to Invite Christ Into Your Life
Jesus does not call us to achieve righteousness on our own, but to seek Him, trust in Him, and allow Him to transform us from within. “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” If you desire to surpass the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, the first step is surrendering to Christ.
Pray and ask Jesus to enter your heart, to change you, and to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Confess that you cannot achieve righteousness on your own and that you need Him to lead you. If you seek Him with a sincere heart, He will not turn you away.
As Jesus says in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
Take this moment to invite Christ into your life, to surrender your will to His, and to walk in the true righteousness that comes from knowing and following Him.