The Pharisees were known as the most “righteous” people of their time, but Jesus tells His disciples that their righteousness must surpass that of these noted teachers of the Law. In the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, and later in Matthew’s Gospel, we find an explanation for this requirement. To enter the kingdom of heaven, our righteousness must - Be inner as well as outer. Not just murder and adultery, but resentment and lust, must be banished from our hearts; divorce is not an option, nor is remarriage after divorce (5:21-32). - Be positive as well as negative. It’s not enough not to lie under oath; we must not swear oaths at all. “Just” retaliation is ruled out, and must be replaced by generosity (5:33-42). - Be extended to the “good” and the “bad.” We are to love not only our neighbor, but our enemy as well, just as God has loved us (5:43-48). - Be hidden from others. Public practice of piety will bring the praises of men, but God will only reward religious acts done in secret and for His approval (6:1-18). - Be focused on God and not on this world. We are to seek first His kingdom and righteousness, not material wealth or even security (6:19-34). To enter the kingdom of heaven, we must “do the will” of God the Father (7:21). But no one can measure up to this standard! That is why Jesus tells us that “unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (18:3). In other words, as He said to Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling class, “You must be born again” (John 3, 5). Or, as Paul wrote, we must trust in Christ, so that we might have the “righteousness which is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:9). Only then will our “righteousness” exceed that of the Pharisees; only thus shall we enter into the eternal kingdom of God.