Sunday Preview: Heart Before Habit

Imagine hearing this bombshell from Jesus: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Shocking, right? To the Jews of Jesus’ day, this was jaw-dropping. They had a saying: if only two people made it to heaven, one would be a Pharisee, the other a scribe. These were the gold standard—credentials polished, laws followed to a T, and outward perfection displayed. Yet Jesus says it’s not enough. Their righteousness—built on personal effort—wasn’t the real deal. True righteousness isn’t something we manufacture; it’s a gift we receive by faith in Christ, trusting His sacrifice to make us whole.  

So, if righteousness is a gift, what does it look like to live it? How do we reflect our King in a way deeper than rules? Jesus doesn’t leave us guessing. Let’s walk through His vision—a life transformed from the heart outward.

Righteousness Redefined: From Rules to Relationship
Jesus says in Matthew 5:17: “Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.” Fulfill—not tweak or toss out, but fill with meaning. The Pharisees saw righteousness as a scorecard: more good deeds, more points. But that made God’s Law a burden—a system of legal checkboxes missing the heart. Jesus flips it. He’s not raising the bar with more rules; He’s revealing their deeper intent.  

Look at Matthew 22:37-39: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind… Love your neighbor as yourself.” This is the lens—love. Not a system but a relationship. Micah 6:8 echoes it: “Act justly, love faithfulness, and walk humbly with your God.” The Law was never about cold compliance; it’s always been about reflecting God’s character—His heart for us and others. Jesus doesn’t reject obedience; He redeems it, making righteousness a gift we live out, not a status we earn.

The Heart of Righteousness: The Beatitudes
So, what does this transformed life look like? Jesus paints it in Matthew 5:3-10—the Beatitudes. These aren’t rules to follow; they’re the fruit of a heart remade by God. Humility (“poor in spirit”), mercy, peacemaking, a hunger for righteousness—these flow from within, not from a checklist. This is the “exceeding righteousness” of Matthew 5:20—deeper, not louder. It’s not about outshining the Pharisees at their game; it’s about reflecting Christ in ours.  

Think of the Beatitudes as a mirror. Hold them up—do you see humility where pride once stood? Mercy where judgment lingered? They’re not a transaction (“do this, get that”); they’re transformation—a life aligned with God’s upside-down kingdom, where blessing finds the overlooked, not the overachievers.

Love: The Core of Righteous Living
But Jesus doesn’t stop at the heart—He moves us to action. In Matthew 22:37-40, He says all the Law and Prophets “depend” on loving God and neighbor—as a door hangs on hinges, it falls apart without love. This is Matthew 5:17 in motion: relationship, not regulation. Loving God with heart, soul, and mind is total devotion—not a ritual for the show like the Pharisees loved their status. Loving your neighbor—even enemies (Matthew 5:44)—is practical care, not passive nods.
 
Jesus calls out the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23: “You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected… justice, mercy, and faithfulness.” Love completes righteousness—it prompts justice, mercy, faithfulness. He lived it, from healing outcasts to dying on the cross, saying, “Love one another. Just as I have loved you” (John 13:34-35). That’s our mark as disciples—not rules, but love in action.

Righteousness in Action: Forgiveness and Compassion
Love isn’t abstract—it has hands and feet. Jesus ties righteousness to two acts: forgiveness and compassion. Matthew 6:14-15 warns, “If you forgive others… your Father will forgive you. But if you don’t…” It’s not a threat; it’s a mirror of God’s grace—we give what we’ve received. Then, Matthew 25:35-36: “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat… I was in prison and you visited me.” This isn’t an empty ritual—it’s righteousness surpassing the Pharisees’ walls of judgment with bridges of mercy.  

Jesus showed it: touching a leper (Matthew 8:3), raising a widow’s son (Luke 7:11-17), sparing an adulteress (John 8:11). Love freed, fed, restored. It still does.

As We Close…
In Jesus’ eyes, righteousness isn’t a Pharisee-style performance. It’s a heart transformed by God’s love—humble, merciful, active. From touching lepers to forgiving enemies, it’s not a status we earn—it’s a gift we seek and share. Matthew 6:33 says it best: “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.”  
So, what now? Spend time with Jesus—prayer, Scripture, quiet. Ask, “Where does my heart need Your touch?” Pick one Beatitude to chase—maybe mercy. Love one person intentionally, even if it’s tough. Forgive where it hurts; serve where it costs. Start small, but start. Let His righteousness flow—not from habit, but from the heart.

Those Serving

OPENING / WELCOME
Jason Schofield
SONG LEADER
Mark Ringle
PRAYER OF PRAISE
Benjamin Baker
LEAD LORD'S SUPPER
Jeremy Price
 ASSIST LORD’S SUPPER
James Passmore
Mike Rosato
GaryJackson
Roy Pyle
SCRIPTURE READING
John Key
Matthew 22:37-40
PREACHING
Matthew Allen
CLOSING PRAYER
Jim Rutter
CLOSING COMMENTS
Dan Spargo
WELCOME CENTER
Richard Jacobs / Rich Walker
USHERS
Marvin Lewis / Matt Ringle
SONG DEVOTIONAL
Chris Terrian
COMMUNION PREP
Wes Grushon
CLOSING THE BUILDING
Richard Jacobs