An Outward Righteousness Only
I am skipping the remainder of Chapter Seven of Arthur Pink's "An Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount" because I thought that most of the comments therein were somewhat redundant. Chapter Eight is a commentary on the following verse:
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Mat. 5:20)
Pink explains that this must have been a startling statement to those who were in His audience, due to the high esteem that most held for the scribes and Pharisees. He says that the scribes were the most renowned teachers of the Law, and the Pharisees were considered to be the models of adherence to the biblical religion. According to Pink, the Pharisees were believed to have attained the pinnacle of personal piety and many believed that their level of spirituality was beyond the reach of the common man. Pink says, "It was a proverb among the Jews that ‘If but two men were to enter heaven, the one would be a scribe and the other a Pharisee.’" Therefore, the Lord's declaration revealing that their righteousness was inadequate to secure them an entrance into the kingdom of heaven must have been shocking to many people.
But who were the scribes and Pharisees?
Pink explains that there were two classes of scribes. There were the civil scribes who registered the affairs of the state and there were the ecclesiastical scribes who were interpreters of the Law of Moses. Pink points to Shimshai as an example of the former (Ezra 4:8) and Ezra as one of the latter (Ezra 7:1,5,6). Obviously, the latter are in view here, whom Pink says were members of the tribe of Levi.
The name "Pharisee" on the other hand has reference to a particular sect, not an ecclesiastical office. The Pharisees formed for themselves a code of morals and of ceremonial acts more rigid than the Law of Moses required, which they based on the traditions of their forefathers. The Pharisees were held in high esteem among the Jews: see Acts 23:6 26:5. Pink says: "The scribes, then, were the doctors of the Law; the Pharisees professing the purest practice of it." I think it is likely that some of the scribes were Pharisees, but I do not know and Pink does not say.
Next, Pink deals with the question of the character of their righteousness, and inquires into its defectiveness. First, he explains, the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was only external in nature, consisting in certain outward observances of the Law. "They were strict in abstaining from such gross sins as adultery, theft, murder and idolatry; but they made no conscience of impure thoughts, covetousness, hatred, and coldness of heart toward God" For this reason, they were condemned by the Lord in these words: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess" (Mat. 23:25)
Second, They laid far more stress upon the ceremonial precepts of the Law than they did upon its moral requirements. Therefore, Christ said unto them, "Ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith" (Mat. 23:23)
Third, Their motivation was selfish. They sought their own glory, rather than the glory of God. "They were forward in fasting, praying at street corners, and giving alms ostentatiously; but it was all done to enhance their reputation among men." (Mat. 23:5-7)
As Pink explains, the scribes and Pharisees lacked the things that really matter, such as true righteousness and purity of heart. He believes that their religion was an example of the natural tendency of all men to trust in a religion of external performances in order to ensure themselves a blissful eternity.
Of course, few Christians admit this to be the case with them, and almost all will deny it when challenged, but many affirm it in their actions. "They bring their bodies to the house of prayer, but not their souls; they worship with their mouths, but not 'in spirit and in truth.’" They are sticklers for adhering to certain doctrines and being faithful in their church meeting attendance but do not consider that their hearts are not right with God. As Pink says:
"Multitudes of professing Christians abstain from external acts of violence, yet hesitate not to rob their neighbours of a good name by spreading evil reports against them. Thousands who would not dare to rob openly, yet misrepresent their goods and cheat their customers; which shows they have more fear of breaking man’s laws than they have of breaking those of God."
"For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Mat. 5:20)
Pink explains that this must have been a startling statement to those who were in His audience, due to the high esteem that most held for the scribes and Pharisees. He says that the scribes were the most renowned teachers of the Law, and the Pharisees were considered to be the models of adherence to the biblical religion. According to Pink, the Pharisees were believed to have attained the pinnacle of personal piety and many believed that their level of spirituality was beyond the reach of the common man. Pink says, "It was a proverb among the Jews that ‘If but two men were to enter heaven, the one would be a scribe and the other a Pharisee.’" Therefore, the Lord's declaration revealing that their righteousness was inadequate to secure them an entrance into the kingdom of heaven must have been shocking to many people.
But who were the scribes and Pharisees?
Pink explains that there were two classes of scribes. There were the civil scribes who registered the affairs of the state and there were the ecclesiastical scribes who were interpreters of the Law of Moses. Pink points to Shimshai as an example of the former (Ezra 4:8) and Ezra as one of the latter (Ezra 7:1,5,6). Obviously, the latter are in view here, whom Pink says were members of the tribe of Levi.
The name "Pharisee" on the other hand has reference to a particular sect, not an ecclesiastical office. The Pharisees formed for themselves a code of morals and of ceremonial acts more rigid than the Law of Moses required, which they based on the traditions of their forefathers. The Pharisees were held in high esteem among the Jews: see Acts 23:6 26:5. Pink says: "The scribes, then, were the doctors of the Law; the Pharisees professing the purest practice of it." I think it is likely that some of the scribes were Pharisees, but I do not know and Pink does not say.
Next, Pink deals with the question of the character of their righteousness, and inquires into its defectiveness. First, he explains, the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was only external in nature, consisting in certain outward observances of the Law. "They were strict in abstaining from such gross sins as adultery, theft, murder and idolatry; but they made no conscience of impure thoughts, covetousness, hatred, and coldness of heart toward God" For this reason, they were condemned by the Lord in these words: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess" (Mat. 23:25)
Second, They laid far more stress upon the ceremonial precepts of the Law than they did upon its moral requirements. Therefore, Christ said unto them, "Ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith" (Mat. 23:23)
Third, Their motivation was selfish. They sought their own glory, rather than the glory of God. "They were forward in fasting, praying at street corners, and giving alms ostentatiously; but it was all done to enhance their reputation among men." (Mat. 23:5-7)
As Pink explains, the scribes and Pharisees lacked the things that really matter, such as true righteousness and purity of heart. He believes that their religion was an example of the natural tendency of all men to trust in a religion of external performances in order to ensure themselves a blissful eternity.
Of course, few Christians admit this to be the case with them, and almost all will deny it when challenged, but many affirm it in their actions. "They bring their bodies to the house of prayer, but not their souls; they worship with their mouths, but not 'in spirit and in truth.’" They are sticklers for adhering to certain doctrines and being faithful in their church meeting attendance but do not consider that their hearts are not right with God. As Pink says:
"Multitudes of professing Christians abstain from external acts of violence, yet hesitate not to rob their neighbours of a good name by spreading evil reports against them. Thousands who would not dare to rob openly, yet misrepresent their goods and cheat their customers; which shows they have more fear of breaking man’s laws than they have of breaking those of God."
posted by Stuart DiNenno at 12/06/2004 08:50:00 PM
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