Unearned Righteousness

Friday, August 8, 2025

Good morning, Lord

Father in Heaven, I seek You first-the knowledge of Your kingdom and Your righteousness. Fill my consciousness constantly and complete Your joy in me as I take up my cross and follow...In Jesus' name…

Memory verse:Jeremiah 15:19 ESV

Therefore thus says the Lord: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them.” 

Verse of the day: Psalm 149:4

4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;    he adorns the humble with salvation.

Readings: Psalm 74-76 Romans 9:16-33

Unearned Righteousness

Jesus teaches us, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20

The Pharisees were the best at what they did. What they did was follow rules that they had picked out of the writings of Moses-the number, then, was 611.

Luke 15:2- “2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Nothing angered Jesus more and I think hurt His heart as much as did the self righteousness of the Pharisees. Jesus answered this accusation with three parables-the one lost sheep of 100 and the lady’s one lost coin of ten. Both ended in rejoicing over their recovery.

Then Jesus told of the prodigal son that ends with the elder son refusing to rejoice over the son that has come home. This shows the father(God) offering the self-righteous son(The Pharisees and/or the law abiding Jews) to come join in celebration. The elder son rejects the father’s mercy over his own ‘earned righteousness’ as the Jews were rejecting God’s mercy in Christ which is freely given.

God wanted their hearts, not just their hands-God wanted their faith in Him and not in themselves. Paul said it well in Philippians 3:9- “...and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith...”

The Pharisees wanted praise from men(John 12:43) more than Praise from God. They wanted to do everything themselves and take credit for it. Faith cannot be quantified-it cannot be worn on a sleeve or carried around the neck for people to admire.

As we look at the Pharisees and their self-righteous lives, we must remember that Jesus’ heart broke for them and all Jews. He saw past their sin to the souls He would die for.

Matthew 23:37- ““Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”

With Christ as our example, our hearts must break for the ‘legalistic’ folks we know while we follow Christ in faith and travel the narrow path rejoicing in Him.

Tell God you want to leave self-righteousness behind and join His celebration.

...because He loves you, He will do it...

Father in Heaven,

Your name is grace without limits. Your kingdom obedience is what I strive for in love. Strengthen my faith today, Forgive me for loving the praise of mankind. Lead me away from that wicked love.

Father of all,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen