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MATTHEW 5:20

"RIGHTEOUSNESS OF SCRIBES AND PHARISEES."

Intro:  The shocking effect these words had.

I. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE PHARISEE.
        A. Self-righteousness  "I thank thee, I am not as."
                1. I pay my tithe, I fast, etc.
        B. It was a outer righteousness.
                1. The outer side of the cup is clean.
                2. "Outwardly appear righteous unto men be within ye are full of hypocrisy and
                   iniquity."
        C. Righteousness of works or duty.
                1. They had a set of rules and they were mechanically obedient.
        D. True righteous should Glorify God not self.
        E. True righteousness is of the heart.
        F. True works are the spontaneous result of true righteousness.

II. THE RESULT OF THE PHARISEE'S TYPE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.
        A. Self-righteousness always condemns, those who do not measure to the mark.
                1. This always makes the one to appear more righteous.
                2. We must guard our attitude toward others. Great tendency to condemn things
                   we don't do.
                        You don't have to condemn the man who smokes, the government has.
        B. The development of outer righteousness always leads to hypocrisy.
        C. Righteousness by the rule book always leads to first two.

III. RIGHTEOUSNESS THAT SAVES. "LORD, WHO THEN CAN BE SAVED?"
        A. Paul the apostle a Pharisee and expert at that type of righteousness, discovered.
                1. "Those things that were gain to me, I counted loss for Christ, ye
                   doubtless. "And be found in Him."
        B. All efforts of rule book righteousness are attempts to reform old man.
                1. True righteousness lies in new nature. The law written in our hearts.
        C. Man's best efforts cannot save.
        Only God's Sovereign grace can save the sinner and give him a standing before God.
        "Now unto Him who is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before 
        His presence with exceeding joy."