Daily Study from Lifeway’s “The Gospel Project”
After He told His listeners that their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees, Jesus continued to present the practical implications of that righteousness. He shows His listeners that the problem isn’t in the righteous acts of the Pharisees but in the deadened, affirmation-seeking hearts behind those actions. He doesn’t ask His listeners to stop praying, giving, or fasting but instead models how to do these things in a way that honors God.
Jesus reminds us that our treasure is not here on earth, in the physical gifts we might receive, but instead in heaven. He stills our anxious thoughts, reminding us that our prayers, fasting, and giving are not the things that produce His will but acts of obedience in the face of a God who cares for us. There are many times when Jesus speaks in parables that mask His meaning for those whose eyes the Spirit has not yet opened, but this passage offers some of His plainest instruction.
In what ways does this part of Jesus’ sermon challenge you to exceed the “righteousness of the Pharisees”?
Stay Thirsty for Righteousness My Friends…
Stay Thirsty for Righteousness My Friends... 