At a recent Bible study we saw that the Pharisee was originally equal to high moral, a righteous life, diligent observance of the law, a “holy” dissociation with the ungodly, etc.

And yet our Savior says,  ”Unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”  (Mt. 5:20)

Is that possible?  No, at least not by your own efforts, deeds of piety, church attendance,  various rituals, or all kinds of religious exercises, nor by behaving like a Christian.

It is only possible through Jesus Christ.  Oh, that statement is so easy to say in a churchy country that masters all shades of religious terminology.  But still we must like the tax collector come to that very place, ”God, be merciful to me a sinner!”  This simple greeting I´ve passed on to many religious people here and abroad.

The tax collector having been before God as a lost sinner went home ”justified”, i.e. clothed with the righteousness of Jesus Christ.  Indeed, nothing less than that.  The Pharisee went home as a Pharisee.  Nothing happened to him.

The apostle holds forth the glorious gift of justification in 2 Cor. 5:21, ”He (God) made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (Jesus Christ).”  A new believer in Norway said to me, ”That very word did me so good!”  Yes, it does to every convicted sinner.

Jeremiah prophesied of Christ as our imputed Righteousness with the words, ”The LORD our Righteousness” (Jer. 23:6).  But this is a different kind of righteousness of which the Pharisee boasted.  Jeremiah points to the LORD Himself as the Righteousness of the tax collector and of every sinner who turns to Christ for salvation.  This is indeed a righteousness that far exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and the Pharisees.

It is true balm for ”tax collectors and sinners” – and for those only.
15.10.11 - jn