An Impossible Standard

Matthew 5:20 KJV

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:48 KJV

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

I see this portion of the Sermon on the Mount as an explanation of the intent of the Mosaic Law. The point of that Law and the point of Matthew 5:20-48, is to express the utter impossibility of a man making himself righteous through obedience to a system of laws and rituals, not to provide man with a checklist upon the completion of which a man could consider himself righteous. The Lord, in effect, made the expectation so high that it is an impossible standard to be kept.

The Pharisees were considered masters at the Law. They had studied it and devoted their lives to the teaching of it and the practice of it. But Jesus said to this anxious crowd that their righteousness would have to exceed that of the scribe and Pharisees if there was any hope of them entering into heaven. What follows that statement is an interpretation of the Mosaic Law that is unreasonable given the sin nature of man. Some have appeared to tame the flesh and do the right thing on the outside but no man has ever tamed the heart.

• Even the man who would never consider murder has fought anger in his heart
• Even the man who has not committed adultery has fought with lust
• Even the most honest of men have learned that the only way to be true to his word is to be bound by a contract
• Even the best of men struggle in areas such as loving their enemies

And then there is Christ’s final nail in this segment of the sermon,

Matthew 5:48 KJV

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

No man can possibly live up to this expectation. It is an impossible standard. It is beyond the reach of any man. It leaves us hopeless, doomed, ruined. What is man to do?

2 Corinthians 5:21 KJV

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Amen.