Think of all the rules you’d have to follow to please God. The Pharisees wanted people to live their life by a checklist of “do this; don’t do that.” They were all about external religion.
Jesus flipped it all upside down. Jesus made grace and humility the main focus of his message. He desired hearts of flesh instead of stone.
Jesus showed us faith is less about keeping a religious rule book and more about loving your neighbor.
Here are 9 times Jesus redefined what people thought righteousness meant.
Righteousness must surpass Pharisaic legalism
Jesus stunned the crowd when He told them they must become more righteous than the religious leaders. The Pharisees were known for obeying every rule to the letter, so this seemed like an impossible task.
Yet, Jesus wasn’t adding to their list of obligations; He was letting them know that God values a heart that obeys more than one who merely looks religious on the outside.
From “Don’t murder” to reconciliation with others
Jesus told us that the rule “Don’t murder” was much more than literal killing. Anger, hatefulness, insults towards others were all sin.
The old law said if you didn’t kill, then you were fine. Jesus revealed that righteousness begins in the heart.
Jesus wanted his followers to prioritize reconciliation and letting go of grudges over just staying away from major wrongdoings.
Lust and purity deep within the heart
Jesus made it clear that a superficial following of the rules was no longer acceptable. Back then, as long as you avoided physical adultery, you were seen as “good.”
Jesus revealed that was merely a superficial approach to life. He said what you think and what you intend are every bit as real to God as what you do out in public.
He set the standard so high that no one could merely pretend to be righteous; they had to be righteous on the inside.
True integrity in words, beyond ritual oaths
Back then, folks swore oaths to show they were being honest. You might invoke “Heaven” or “the Temple” as your witness, and consider yourself free and clear. If you swore some other way, you felt that you were let off the hook.
Jesus wanted his followers’ words to be their bond. He wanted a world where a straightforward “yes” was truly a yes, and a clear “no” was enough. Think of that standard. Your very words should be enough for someone to believe you.
The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector
Jesus preached a parable about two men who went to pray, a Pharisee and a tax collector.
The Pharisee thanked God that he was not like other men, implying that he was better than others. The tax collector, however, merely asked God to forgive him.
Jesus concluded that God heard the cry of the tax collector and not that of the Pharisee. Thus, we learn that righteousness does not consist of proclaiming our own righteousness. Righteousness is found in humility and faith.
The righteous must trust God’s providence
We must learn to rest in God’s providence. He made this point by observing the lilies and the birds. They do not labor and they are cared for.
Jesus brought the most basic of examples to make His point that God will supply your needs. Here, righteousness means having the peace of mind that you are provided for. Rest instead of worrying and striving.
More than loving friends
I don’t think you can fully appreciate how radical this teaching was. People assumed loving friends was sufficient. That seemed normal. Loving enemies never even entered their minds.
Jesus flipped everything on its head. “Love your enemies,” he instructed his followers. Jesus even instructed them to pray for those who were persecuting them. That goes against every human instinct.
Jesus revealed to them a deeper love. The very love of God that He lavished on all people.
Showing mercy and compassion
Jesus wasn’t moved by people who knew all the rules but had hardened hearts. Memorizing the Law was one thing; actually following it was another. It was possible to be “right” and completely miss the mark.
Jesus cared how we treated the vulnerable, the ill, those nobody else wanted to spend time with. That was what He looked at. Mercy was the heart of the matter.
Stopping the cycle of payback
“An eye for an eye” seemed just. Someone wrongs you, you pay him back. This seemed like justice to the average person. Jesus Christ told us to turn the other cheek.
On the surface, it almost seems as if he was asking people to allow themselves to be beaten down. But that wasn’t it at all. He understood retaliation only fuels the fire.
He was challenging his followers to have strength in themselves to end the cycle rather than continue it.
Sources: Please see here for a complete listing of all sources that were consulted in the preparation of this article.
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