Mateus 5:20

"I say to you" is a claim to having authority (cf. Matthew 7:29). The relativistic view of the scribes and Pharisees led them to accept some Scriptural injunctions and to reject others (cf. Matthew 15:5-6). [Note: For a good brief introduction to the scribes and the Pharisees, see France, The Gospel . . ., p. 189.] This resulted in selective obedience that produced only superficial righteousness (only external conformity to the revealed will of God). That type of righteousness, Jesus declared, would not be adequate for admission into the kingdom. The phrase "enter the kingdom" occurs seven other times in the New Testament (Matthew 7:21; Matthew 18:3; Matthew 19:23-24; Mark 9:47; John 3:5; Acts 14:22). The condition for entering in every case is faith alone. Selective obedience does not demonstrate a proper faith attitude to God, the attitude John and Jesus called for when they said, "Repent."

"I have always felt that Matthew 5:20 was the key to this important sermon . . . The main theme is true righteousness. The religious leaders had an artificial, external righteousness based on Law. But the righteousness Jesus described is a true and vital righteousness that begins internally, in the heart. The Pharisees were concerned about the minute details of conduct, but they neglected the major matter of character. Conduct flows out of character." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:21.]

This pericope deals with various attitudes toward the Law: destroying it or fulfilling it (Matthew 5:17), and doing it and teaching it (Matthew 5:19).

Jesus proceeded to clarify exactly what the law did require in Matthew 5:21-48. [Note: William M. McPheeters, "Christ As an Interpreter of Scripture," The Bible Student 1 (April 1900):223-29.] He selected six subjects. He was not contrasting His interpretation with Moses’ teaching but with the interpretation of the scribes and Pharisees. He was expounding the meaning of the text that God originally intended. He was doing Bible exposition.