Righteousness, as a word, and as a concept, may be far removed from our everyday lives, but it is a central feature of the Bible. The Bible demonstrates that God is perfectly righteous, which means that His judgements have no flaws or failings, and everyone must measure up to His perfect standard if they are to be considered righteous. In this article we will look at what Jesus taught about this important subject.
Righteousness is immoveable
In Matthew 3:1-17, people who have turned away from sin (that is, from doing wrong) and turned to God are being baptised by a man called John as an outward sign of the inward change that has taken place. Into this scene comes Jesus, the Son of God, a Man “who committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22) and is described as, morally, “without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19). Jesus requests John to baptise Him, an idea which John rejects – citing the holiness of the Person who is asking. Nevertheless, Jesus tells John that it is fitting for everyone to “fulfil all righteousness” (Matthew 3:15). If baptism was required of all people, regardless of who they were, as an outward sign of obedience to God, then Jesus must be baptised.[1]
Having lived in obscurity up to this point, as He is about to begin a ministry of making God known through teaching and healing, Jesus gives this clear sign that righteousness is an immoveable standard.
Righteousness is desirable
As we read on through Matthew’s Gospel, a significant portion is dedicated to what has been called the Sermon on the Mount. In three chapters, Jesus details the standards for righteous living. In the Beatitudes, a list of eight blessings that mirror eight characteristics of those who love God, He announces a blessing reserved for those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). Far from righteousness being a “mood-killer” or “fun-stopper” it is, in fact, the place where satisfaction is to be found. As human beings, made in the image of God, we can only ever find true and lasting satisfaction in doing the things that please God, that is, by living righteously. The 5th century theologian and philosopher, Augustine of Hippo, writes, in a prayer to God: “you have made us and drawn us to yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” Righteousness is therefore desirable.
Righteousness is unattainable
But can I ever be so righteous as to please God? Jesus says in Matthew 5:20: “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that were fanatical about observing the laws given to Moses and recorded in the first five books of the Bible. They were so fanatical, in fact, that their name means “those who are separated”; they wanted to distinguish themselves from those who didn’t observe the law as rigidly. Sadly, their legalism meant they attempted to approach God through their own good works, rather than through the means which He has appointed: faith in His promises, e.g., “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness” (Romans 4:3).
Despite their erroneous thinking and lack of true spirituality, Jesus takes these deeply religious men, with their rigorous law-keeping, as the supreme example of people who are trying to live in a way that pleases God. With it comes a warning, though: unless I can live in a way that is more righteous than the Pharisees’ attempted adherence to the commands that God has given, there is no hope for me to be in a right relationship with God. It is important to note that this is not a challenge which Jesus is setting for us, but a reality check for those who think their good works will lead them to God. If the Pharisees, with all their religious efforts, were still so far from God, what hope is there for anyone?
Righteousness is available
There is good news. If I approach God on His terms, then righteousness is available. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says: “But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Unsurprisingly, the kingdom of God is characterised by righteousness, so those who seek entrance to the kingdom must also seek a right standing with God. That is why there is such an emphasis in the teachings of the Lord Jesus on righteousness. Using the standards set by the people around us will often lead us away from the righteous standards of God and, by extension, away from His kingdom. The Bible shows us that God has made it possible for us to be declared righteous, not because of our own efforts, but because of what the Lord Jesus has done for us through His death and resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, the Apostle Paul states: “Christ died for our sins . . . He rose again the third day”, and in 2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV), he writes: “For our sake he [God] made him [Christ] to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”
Righteousness, though immoveable and seemingly unattainable, is still desirable, and is available to you today through faith in Jesus Christ. That, according to Jesus’ teaching, is the number one priority.
[1] Christian baptism, whilst having some similarities, is not the same as the baptism referred to here. For a discussion on Christian baptism, click here Doctrines that Divide: Baptism | Understanding the G...
