Except Your Righteousness exceed the Pharisees

Matthew 5:20 KJVS

[20] For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Straight out the gate Christ hits us with what may seem like a piece of cake to some and a daunting task to others. Our righteousness MUST EXCEED that of the Pharisees, else we won’t make it into the kingdom of heaven. A heavy statement. Because it acknowledges the fact that you may be righteous. And to top it off, that they were moving righteous in some regard! But you must exceed even them. How? Why?Nevertheless, you will find out why and how to navigate this as you read on. Keeping in mind as the scriptures say:

1 Corinthians 8:2 KJVS

And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.

Your perception of Matthew 5:20 is more than likely based on your understanding of the Pharisees or lack thereof. But it holds the key to helping you understand which side of the fence you may be on. And it’s no hard matter to end up on the wrong side. So I will help to shine light on this enigma to broaden the scope of your understanding. As failure to understand this could mean you could be walking right into the lake of fire and miss the kingdom!

Matthew 16:6 KJVS

Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Christ warned his disciples to be aware and able to perceive the leaven of the Pharisees. Now you have to pause there and meditate on that within yourself. If it were a light thing and easy to recognize he would have no need to mention it. Think about it, how many times do you see Christ reminding the disciples to take heed and keep the Passover? Or the Sabbath even? This has to be something that could be more easily overlooked and not as easy to understand or perceive, especially if one isn’t tuned in. So what does it really mean and how does it look implemented or in our day to day lives?

Matthew 16:11-12 KJVS

How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? [12] Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Even the disciples marveled at the saying and needed understanding. Christ was informing them to be aware and alert concerning the doctrine of the Pharisees and Sadducees. But what was their doctrine?

Matthew 23:3 KJVS

[3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Christ let them know, you could generally follow and subscribe to the things they teach. Why? Because they are teaching things that are sound doctrine. Things you can look and see that are just or true when you open and read the Bible. So they were still reading the Bible and breaking down understandings out of the word of the Most High.  Yet, the problem was, they themselves weren’t applying it. It even goes deeper than that, as you’ll see as we read down.

Luke 12:1-2 KJVS

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. [2] For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.

Now you know it’s important when someone opens up with, “First of all”. Christ had to stop and point this out as it sets the stage for everything else to follow. The doctrine and leaven Christ was making mention of concerning the Pharisees and Sadducees is hypocrisy. Some may have thought initially, maybe it’s just sin. But it isn’t just sin. Which can seem crazy at first because by now you probably understand that leaven represents sin. Yet, you may not understand the fact that the Pharisees were actually keeping many of the laws. So it’s more deeply rooted and diabolical than that. They had a wicked lifestyle, yet a righteous one. Or rather a sub-wicked lifestyle and mainstream righteous one. Which is why Christ says what he says above in verse two, that in short, whatever you do in the dark will come to the light. As many of the wickedness they were doing was in the dark. They were moving in secret; stealth mode. How they moved and operated was in the art of deceit, and hypocrisy. And it’s actually easier to fall victim to than you might believe. Both in terms of you committing the act and being acted upon by others. And many, even having the knowledge of the truth (no matter how vast) fall victim to it. You will understand better and it will make more sense as we read on and I explain.

Matthew 23:13 KJVS

[13] But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

How might the Pharisees and Sadducees keep people from the kingdom of heaven let alone themselves? Well, you must consider if their doctrine is hypocrisy, that means they are teaching, “Thus saith the Lord”. Yet, the application is, “but we gone do this”. And as much as people hear you, they will begin to adapt to how you move and operate. Especially, as you begin to bend certain laws and understandings. I am saying one thing but doing something else.

Sirach 10:2 KJVA

As the judge of the people is himself, so are his officers; and what manner of man the ruler of the city is, such are all they that dwell therein.

Don’t underestimate the power of influence of an individual, let alone a leader. Because however they are and however they move, it will begin to become infectious among the people. Unspoken rules and standards take place. These rules and standards become interwoven in the makeup of the organization, so much so, that it creates a subculture amongst the mainstream community that lives in the shadows, yet is open and seen but has layers that seem to blend and operate so well. Alliances are formed, pacts are made and it’s expected for you to fall in line with the program. Or be politically silenced, as “the man with the mic” is always going to be able to drown you out. Even make you appear evil.

Proverbs 12:26 KJVS

The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.

No matter how well you think you can discern someone or something, never underestimate the power of seduction. It isn’t about what you do or don’t know. Or how strong or weak you are. And it goes well beyond the realm of sexual power or just persuasion. It carries over into every facet of life and anything that can go against the creator. The thing that can cause one to marvel most is that you could probably avoid being seduced if someone came outright, or “head up”. You may see them coming a mile away and avoid it. But when one is strategic, they are playing chess not checkers. They have more patience and they are much more calculated.

The way that they move and how they operate begins to overshadow what you read in the scriptures. That even if you start to see the light and realize this ain’t right, that is the moment you get hit with the Jedi mind trick. Things are said in such a poetically smooth way that it would seem as if any feeling or doubt you had was wrong. You were pacified or all together shut down concerning your thoughts and feelings.

Matthew 23:5 KJVS

[5] But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

See the craziest part (and scariest thing) about the Pharisees is they were not easily perceived as wicked. They had the love of the people and the congregation. They made sure to do the things needed in the public eye to be perceived as good. Yet, so many of their works were evil. And that is harder for us because we are so use to looking at things in black and white, that when you add a random color in their like orange and ask people, “should it be with red or yellow?” It can be hard for them to agree which side to put it on. Just like shades of grey on a black and white spectrum. How grey is it? Is it more black grey or white grey? And the craziest thing is, is that if it is supposed to be either black or white there should be no grey! Grey becomes the lukewarm or void area created to keep you in the matrix. Never really being able to discern between good and evil. As it appears good but some of these things are evil. Because you have good mixed in with the evil! That is why hypocrisy and deception are harder to identify and properly expunge. It’s not cut and dry. And you have to play chess in order to match the game of chess they are playing.

See the Pharisees didn’t have a problem applying many of what some may identify as the more carnal laws and observances. It was customary for them. No different than brushing your teeth or taking a shower. They didn’t struggle with wearing fringes or a beard for example. Those things were rather easy and enjoyable for them. Those things they took pride in. The challenge, both for them and for others to identify and see in them was the application of the laws that pertained to what we would identify as one’s character traits. Yet, what is even more diabolical isn’t the fact that these things were not altogether absent, but rather that there was an agenda, it was a chess game. They were naturally snakes and strategic in how they moved as to avoid any evil suspicion. Yet, they were deadly, leading you straight to hell with a smile on they face and you would feel good about it.

Luke 3:7-9 KJVS

Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [9] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Have you ever examined the nature of a snake? Have you really studied it? See the nature of a snake is that it can choke you out and drain all the life out of you slowly. It smothers you slowly, squeezing you, immobilizing you from moving, until it’s certain you are no longer breathing; until you’re lifeless. And to make it worse its bite can be very toxic and depending on the snake it can kill you in minutes or hours and even if it ain’t toxic that bite still hurts a lot due to the fangs it has that penetrate deep. As when a snake bites it makes sure to get a good grip on you and it is only going to strike when it knows it has a high chance of success. If it knows now isn’t a good time it will bide it’s time and do what is necessary to get closer to whatever creature it’s preying on. And a snake can lead you to believe it’s too slow to catch you, and its mouth is too small to eat you. While altogether (unlike most animals) it can stretch its mouth many fold compared to its size. even to the point of dislocating its jaw if needed to accommodate the size of what it is trying to eat. And most snakes know their limitations. They adapt pretty well. They won’t have any struggle taking down creatures significantly larger than the relative size of the snake. And they ain’t gotta chase you as much, as they choose rather to sit and wait or catch you off guard. Now read this again and think how all this applies to a human who has taken on these characteristics. Now that is scary. Yet, so many will call them brother, leader, and friend.

Matthew 23:23-28 KJVS

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. [24] Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. [25] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. [26] Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. [27] Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. [28] Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Destruction is coming to those who are operating as Pharisees and Sadducees. Save they repent, as Paul did. See, some of the things they would do is they would pay alms; even placing large amounts into the treasury, yet they did it with the intent to be seen by others so that when you saw them give alms you would think that they love to give to the Most High and help their people. So they must be beloved by God. And then you feel compelled to give more. Not knowing many of them especially the leaders were levites, even Priest, so it would go back to them anyway! The Levitical priesthood was still in effect! But now you feel better about them and you are now compelled to give more!

See they could get away with doing certain things that the law says should not be done, even lighter sins that are not immediately punishable by death like taking a bribe. But when you did it, it was seen as a punishment worthy of death. They put the ten on a two. Throw him or her under the jail. No mercy, you know the law. But if they did it, they want all the mercy and understanding in the world. And will make you feel guilty for being offended at their actions! To make matters worse, they will trip heavily on something like that but let one from among their ranks commit adultery, something the Bible says is worthy of death they will find a way to finagle that and deem it a lighter sin by bending the law wrestling judgement and trying to find a loophole or way to pacify the people and the situation. Hence, “strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.”

The mindset of the Pharisees and Sadducees was overly focused on being wise in front of the people and looking good that they became too wise for their own good. No different than when David committed adultery. He became fully reprobate for a season. He became a straight nigga. I laid with her, now she pregnant. I need her husband to lay with her so he think the baby is his. No one would ever suspect it was me. And when that didn’t work he plotted to put her husband to death in a way that would clear him from directly being a murderer. He knew he couldn’t just kill him so do it in a way that would appear as if he died a normal death in battle. Hell, niggas die every day in these streets. War was normal, and dying in war was normal. No one would suspect it was an inside job. But in all this from the very beginning he was neck deep in sin. And this how the Pharisees and Sadducees operate; it is their nature. They are like David stuck in this state all the time, no repentance. Operating in the shadows to try to stay one step ahead.

The Pharisees made sure to keep a clean name. They did everything possible to appear as white as snow to the public. But that was the problem. You doing all this to clean the outside of your temple and appear excellent. Yet you’re not doing anything to clean the inner part of your temple. Yeah, you keeping the sabbath, you got your fringes on but you are an extortioner, you’re a fornicator. Doing all types of dirt but you won’t get right. And be the first person offended if someone calls you out on it. Appearing righteous unto men because of the laws you do keep but inwardly abominable due to the ones you don’t.

Matthew 23:2-3 KJVS

[2] Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

[3] All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

It’s sad that we not only have to deal with this in the world but much more so in the truth. You just have to walk circumspectly and fight to not move down their paths.

Ephesians 4:22-24 KJVS

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; [23] And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; [24] And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Being in this walk is more than just changing your outer appearance. And keeping some of the law. You have to change from the inside out. You must change your nature. It must be pure and sincere. Don’t use the truth as a cloak to hide your sins.

Matthew 12:33 KJVS

Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.

You have to make a choice. You have to choose to either become good and make your actions good and just, or become wicked and let your actions be wicked. There is no middle ground with The Most High. Man likes the middle ground. Man likes to be able to stay neutral and not have to pick a side. When that’s not the way The Most High set it up. We have to make every effort to change our spirits and clean ourselves up from the inside out if we seek to ever make it into the kingdom of The Most High. And pray for strength to do so and that the Most High protect you from any who would guide you off of that path.

Romans 7:22 KJVS

For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: