“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:20, NIV

I used to think that ‘holiness’ and ‘righteousness’ are the same, but they are not. Holiness primarily refers to being separated or set apart for sacred purposes, while righteousness focuses on moral conduct and ethical behavior towards others in alignment with divine standards.

‘Righteousness’ involves a person’s or a community’s moral integrity and ethical behavior, manifested through being just, honest and truthful.

In other words, even non-human things – for example, a city, garments, instruments, etc – may be said to be ‘holy,’ but only people can be described as righteous.

In the Old Testament, God, through the laws and commandments, demanded righteous living for His people.

Over time, the scribes and Pharisees became the custodians of those Law and traditions.

They demanded absolute respect from the community, purporting to be the epitome of righteousness.

However, it was also a well-known fact that the pharisees and scribes were hypocrites – the-do-as-I-say- not-as-I-do – type.

Jesus warned His disciples to “beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” (Luke 12:1).

In Luke 11:39-44, the Lord rebuked the Pharisees for “making clean the outside of the cup and the plate; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.”

By admonishing that our “righteousness should surpass that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law,” the Lord is calling for a deeper, more genuine righteousness that goes beyond a mere external show-off to impress people.

The term ‘kingdom of God’ refers to God’s reign or rule—not necessarily a physical place, but rather the active presence and authority of God in the world and lives of His people – healing them, forgiving their sins, defending them from evil, answering their prayers and meeting their needs.

Being a beneficiary of the kingdom of God requires a righteousness that is not self-generated but that comes from having a deep personal relationship with Christ.

In Romans 10:3, the Bible says; “Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.”

In Philippians 3:9, the apostle Paul, formerly the son of a pharisee, says; “and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God on the basis of faith.”

In 2 Corinthians 5:21 he adds; “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”

“When we try to see the world from Jesus’ perspective, it naturally guides us toward kinder actions and behavior.”

Living righteously in a crooked generation is a not a destination; rather, it is journey of continuous growth and reflection.

It’s an attitude thing, which involves a transformation in regard to how we look at others.

We should cultivate fairness, empathy and compassion.

Ask yourself – what would Jesus do?

We should be deliberate about treating everyone equitably, including strangers or people we might never meet again.

We should stand up against injustice and prejudice.

We should always aim for fairness and justice, not merely for fellow human beings but also for nature, including animals and the environment.

It’s never easy but we should practice honesty and integrity in both words and actions.

Let’s be deliberate about extending generosity and loving care to those around us.

Deliberate acts of kindness, reflecting the character of Christ, can have a significant positive impact.

May we always try to admit our weaknesses, seek and offer forgiveness when we hurt each other and learn from the mistakes we make.

May we learn to appreciate the good around us and acknowledge the contributions of others to our success or welfare.

When we try to see the world from Jesus’ perspective, it naturally guides us toward kinder actions and behavior.

Righteousness is a lifelong process of trying to contribute to a more positive world and hence being participants in the Kingdom of God.