Righteousness means having a right love for God leading to a right relationship with him and others, producing right actions. The Pharisees were exacting and scrupulous in their attempts to follow their laws. They thought that was what they needed to do to please God. So how could Jesus reasonably call us to greater righteousness than theirs? The Pharisees weakness was that they were content to obey the laws outwardly without allowing God to change their hearts or attitudes. They looked good and acted piously, but they were far from the kingdom of heaven. God is concerned about our hearts ...

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