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“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

᛭ INI ᛭

The Lord’s speaks. Will you not listen? The Lord makes a promise. Will you not believe it? The Lord gives? Will you not receive? The Lord commands. Will you not do it? There is unrighteousness in not listing, not believing, not receiving, not doing. There is righteousness in listening, believing, receiving, and doing. That’s how it is for you.

Yes, the Lord is the Savior of the world. He also makes promises for all mankind, and yet “where there is a divine promise every one must stand upon his own feet, every one’s personal faith is demanded, every one will give an account of himself and will bear his own burden.” (Luther, Babylonian-Captivity) That’s how it is with promises, and that’s also how it is with the Lord’s commands and His gifts. Everyone stands on their own, when it comes to their doing and receiving.

If there’s a lack lack of listening, believing, receiving, doing, it’s not the Lord’s fault. The fault also isn’t with His Word or Promise or Gift or Command. The fault lies with our sinful nature. Because we’re by nature sinful, His Word goes in one ear and out the other. Our sinful flesh doesn’t want to listen “to Sermons and His Word.” Our human nature makes it so we don’t ponder and practice God’s Word or the Sermon. The heart of man fails to feel the necessity of God’s Word. The human soul and strength don’t guard God’s Word and do it.

To people like that, like you and me, the Lord says, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Scribes and Pharisees were viewed positively by most people because they were, well, righteous, pious, faithful, devout Jews. And the Lord says even they weren’t enough. Nevertheless, don’t get down because you’re not devout enough or righteous enough. As you heard Paul say, “You must consider yourselves dead do sin alive to God in Christ IHS our Lord.” Why? Well, because

THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS.

(I. Why is it yours?)

THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS not BECAUSE of what you’ve done. It’s not because you’re a nice enough person. It’s ONLY because of what Christ has done for you. “The death He died He died to sin once for all” As we heard the Spirit say in our Epistle reading. All the debt of unrighteousness we paid for in Christ’s death.

And there is a debt of unrighteousness for each of us. Even though we’re redeemed, how often unrighteousness comes out in your daily life! You had it the meditation before Confession. You heard it from Christ in our Gospel Lesson.

Today, we took time to meditate upon the Third Commandment. “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.” (SC) How does that play out in your daily life? Well, here are some follow up questions:

• Do I use the Word of God and prayer to make my time, work, study, and life holy day by day? Do I read the Bible each day, alone or with my family?
• Am I lazy and bored with the Word of God?
• Do I tune out the sermon?
• Have I any fear of God over this neglect?

Hear also the Word of God again that Christ spoke in our Gospel: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Christ judges anger and grudges according to the 5th Commandment. Even things we say in frustration, let alone, what we say when we’re angry are also on the chopping block! Yet, how often we can judge our unrighteous grudge as perfectly legitimate, but Christ says, “No dice!” Grudge-bearers, those with short tempers, are just as hell-worthy as murderers.

(Transition)

And yet, THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS. Christ paid for all our unrighteous, sinful actions, our disregard for God’s Word, our anger, and all the other commandments to boot! But that’s not all. It’s not only that Christ resets the sin debt to zero. No, there’s also a positive credit to your righteousness account. After all, THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS.

(II. How is it yours?)

How is THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS yours? How does Christ make it yours? Well, He delivers it. Christ’s righteousness does you no good if He doesn’t actually make sure that you get it. And how does He do that? Well, we heard one way in our Epistle reading: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” In Holy Baptism Christ’s death and His resurrection were personally delivered to you.

And that’s not all! The Lord delivers this also right to you, right into your ears and heart in Holy Absolution. He delivers it in His Holy Word, as Christ prays in John 17. You remember. Where Christ says, “Sanctify them in Your Truth; Your Word is Truth.” The Bible, God’s Word, sanctifies you, makes you holy, makes you righteous, delivers Christ’s righteousness. Christ also delivers it in the Sermon. “Whoever listens to you is listening to Me,” (Lk 10) Christ says of His ministers, whom He sent “to preach repentance and the forgiveness of sin in His name.” (Lk 24) The Lord’s Supper, as you well know, deliver Christ’s body and blood for you to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins.

Christ delivers His ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS, and yet delivering it doesn’t do you any good unless you receive it. You receive it by faith. The Lord’s promises do no good unless they are believed. It’s not that promises depend on faith. It’s just they do no good to a person who doesn’t actually believe it. Like medicine prescribed by a doctor. No matter how powerful or beneficial the medicine is, if the patient doesn’t take, it’s useless to that patient.

That’s how it is for Baptism, for Absolution, for the Bible, for the Sermon, and for Holy Communion. “So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ IHS.” That’s faith. Why consider yourself dead to sin and alive to God? Not only because Christ died and rose for you, but because you’ve been baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection! Because you’ve been Absolved by the minister Christ has sent. Because you receive and believe the Word of God not only in the Bible but as that Word of God is faithfully preached and taught to you. Because you receive Christ’s body and blood. Communion isn’t just useless but harmful if you do not believe Christ’s Word of promise that He spoke when He instituted the Sacrament.

(Transition.)

THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS. He died and rose for you, and He’s also delivered it to you in the both Word and also the Sacraments and you receive it by faith. And now that THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS, your righteousness does indeed surpass the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, which means not only that your righteous, holy, and forgiveness by faith alone, but that you live out Christ’s righteousness, or rather Christ’s righteousness works itself out through you, unlike the hypocritical Scribes and Pharisees.

(III. Now what since it’s yours?)

Since, THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS, now what? Well, that righteousness bears itself out in your life. As the Word of God says: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” We live a new life because we ought not sin that grace may abound. “I can sin because I’ll be forgiven.” That’s not new life.

We live the new life of THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS. You’re baptized and behave like a baptized Christian. To be a Christian is to “meditate day and night” (Ps 1) on God’s Word. It is to “not forsake the gathering together.” (Heb 12) It is to “hold fast to the Apostles’ doctrine, the Breaking of the Bread, and the Prayers.” (Acts 2) It is not “to be angry with your brother” but rather “forgive as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph 4) How could you not do that? You’re baptized, you’re absolved, God’s Word is in your heart and mind, you’ve received the Body and blood of the Lord, the medicine of eternal life, THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS.

(Conclusion.)

The Lord’s speaks. Will you not listen? The Lord makes a promise. Will you not believe it? The Lord gives? Will you not receive? The Lord commands. Will you not do it? There is unrighteousness in not listing, not believing, not receiving, not doing. There is righteousness in listening, believing, receiving, and doing. Not because you’ve done anything but because THE LORD’S ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS IS YOURS.

When you act like a Christian, it’s just His righteousness working itself out in your daily through you. If there’s a lack, He’s all the more generous to do more for you and through you. After all, He died and rose, taking the penalty of your unrighteousness, and He also constantly delivers His righteousness to you. He delivers and you receive it. You can’t receive it unless He gives it. His delivering does no good unless it’s received. You receive His ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS by faith, for sure, but He delivers it to you—He really does!—in Baptism, in Absolution, at Communion, through reading your Bible, and by listening to and pondering the sermon.

For the past 10 years and 15 days, THE LORD has used me to make His ALL-SURPASSING RIGHTEOUSNESS YOURS. He’s used my hands. He’s spoken through me. Now it’s up to another. “So now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” (Acts 20)

“According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I hav laid” “no other foundation than that which is already laid: IHS Christ.” (1-Cor 3) I baptized many of your own households, for unlike Paul, the Lord sent me to baptize. (1-Cor 1) “I have not shunned to declare to you the whole counsel of God.” (Acts 20) “I coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel.” (Acts 20) I “preached the Word, in season and out of season, convincing, rebuking, exhorting, with all long-suffering and teaching.” (2-Tim 3) “I delivered first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again according to the Scriptures.” (1-Cor 15) Yet, it was not I who labored, “but the grace of God that was with me.” (1-Cor 15) After all, “it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 3) “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God unto salvation for all who believe.” (Rom 1) Finally, “I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that [our] Lord Jesus Christ on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and [gave it to the disciples and] said, “Take, eat; this is My body, which is [given] for you; this do in remembrance of Me.” In the same [way] also He took the cup after supper, [and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘[Drink of it all of you. This cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’ (1-Cor 11)

᛭ INI ᛭