3-Day Bible Reading Plan: The Impossible Standard and the Gift of Righteousness
The Pharisees were a movement within Judaism known for their rigorous adherence to the Law, often adding their own interpretations and “fences” around the commandments to avoid even the slightest transgression. Many scribes were also Pharisees. When Jesus' first-century audience heard that their righteousness needed to exceed that of these individuals, it would have sounded like an impossible challenge. Their seemingly flawless adherence to the Law seemed unattainable, leaving his followers with the terrifying thought that salvation may be beyond their grasp. How could they hope to get into heaven if the standard was set so high? - Pastor Paul Crandell, 2/2/25
Day 1
Featured Verse: Matthew 5:17-18 - “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law.”
Cross References:
Luke 16:17 - “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away.”
How does the concept of "not one dot of the Law becoming void" challenge or affirm your understanding of the relationship between the Old and New Testaments?
Psalm 119:89 - “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.”
In what ways can the eternal nature of God's word provide comfort or guidance during times of change or uncertainty in your life?
Isaiah 40:8 - “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.”
What significance does the promise that "the word of our God will stand forever" have for your faith, especially in times when societal values or beliefs seem to shift rapidly?
“Here we see our Lord Jesus Christ standing up for the integrity of the sacred Scriptures. He declares His mission not to be one of destruction, but of fulfillment. He did not come to tear down the moral law, but to embody it, to live it out in perfection, and thereby to show us how we ought to live. He came to give the law its due honor by obeying it himself, and to provide us with both the example and the power to keep it. His life is the law made visible, His death is the law's curse borne away for us, and His resurrection is the law's righteousness imputed to us. Let us not, then, despise the law, but through Christ, embrace it and strive to live in its light.” - Charles Spurgeon
Day 2
Featured Verse: Matthew 5:19 - “Whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments…will be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.”
Cross References:
James 2:10 - “Whoever…fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”
How does the principle that breaking one commandment makes one guilty of all affect your understanding of sin and moral responsibility?
Matthew 23:23 - “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
How might Jesus' emphasis on justice, mercy, and faithfulness reshape your understanding of what true righteousness looks like in today's context? Can you think of examples in contemporary society where people might be overly focused on minor details at the expense of more substantial moral or ethical responsibilities, as Jesus critiques in this verse?
Deuteronomy 4:2 - “You shall not add to the word that I command you nor take away from it.”
What challenges do you face in living out the principle of keeping God's Word exactly as given, especially in a culture that often seeks to adapt or reinterpret religious texts?
“It's easy to get caught up in the small details, to make much of the little things, but we must not forget the great commandments of love, justice, mercy, and faith. We can be so busy with our religious duties that we neglect the very heart of what Christ teaches. Let us not be Pharisaical, focusing on external shows of piety while neglecting the heart's true transformation. We must practice both; we must love God and our neighbor with all our heart, while not neglecting the lesser duties. The balance is what Jesus calls us to - a life where love and justice are paramount, yet the smaller duties are not forgotten.” - D.L. Moody
Day 3
Featured Verse: Matthew 5:20 - “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Cross References:
Romans 10:3 - “They did not submit to God’s righteousness.”
How does the idea of seeking to establish one's own righteousness manifest in contemporary society or personal life?
Philippians 3:9 - “Not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ.”
How does the distinction between a righteousness that comes from the law versus one through faith in Christ impact your understanding of salvation or personal righteousness?
Matthew 23:27-28 - “You are like whitewashed tombs.”
How does Jesus' metaphor of the Pharisees as "whitewashed tombs" resonate with you in terms of hypocrisy or external vs. internal righteousness in modern society or personal life?
“Here we have described the sad condition of many who seek salvation through their own efforts. They labor under a profound ignorance of the righteousness that comes from God through faith in Christ. Instead of accepting this divine gift, they work tirelessly to build their own merit, their own righteousness. It's a futile endeavor, for no human righteousness can ever stand before God's holiness. The true path to salvation is not in our own doing but in submitting to the righteousness of Christ. Let us be warned against the pride of self-righteousness and embrace the humility of faith in Christ alone for our justification.” - J.C. Ryle