Letting Go of Filthy Rags

And the Need to Do Better

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:20

These words of Jesus are part of his famous Sermon on the Mount. There’s so much good stuff in there, but I want to briefly focus on one point…

“Your righteousness…” “Your righteousness…”

Taking that personally (as it’s meant to be), I take that as my righteousness. But I thought I didn’t really have any righteousness of my own. I’m definitely aware of this by my own knowledge of myself, but it’s also a biblical truth.

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags. -Isaiah 64:6

This idea of filthy rags is much more graphic than you may be thinking. I remember in the 80’s, the derogatory slang for a woman’s menstrual cycle was being “on the rag.” Yup…that’s what Isaiah is talking about. (If the Bible were a movie, it would be R-Rated.) And that’s pretty much what any righteousness I might have on my own would add up to.

As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one. -Romans 3:10, Paul the Apostle

But Jesus himself says that my righteousness needs to exceed that of the Pharisees and teachers of the law. These people are supposed to be the epitome of what it means to be righteous. They did everything just as they were supposed to. Jesus even conceded that to them. But even as he did, he criticized them for missing the point.

Just take a few minutes to read Matthew 23.

Did you do it? Seriously…take a break and click the link above to read it.

He says, “You’re doing all of the things. All that you’re supposed to do. But it’s meaningless. Despite all they’re doing, he tells them that they won’t enter the kingdom of heaven. He calls them children of hell and wicked hypocrites. (Ouch)

Do Better?

I admit that I used to read Matthew 5:20 through a lens of needing to do better. But how could my righteousness surpass those who did everything perfectly?

So then, righteousness must be about something else. Somehow, achieving Jesus’ admonishment to surpass the outwardly perfect in righteousness must mean something other than doing all of the right things.

You see, I didn’t always see it this way. When I was in college I got caught up in the outward expression of righteousness. “The outside shows what’s on the inside” I would say. “They will know you by your fruit.”¹

There is truth to this and, at the same time, there is zero truth to this. It all depends on how you look at it.

Fruity

Let’s take a look at that passage I just mentioned in Matthew 7:15-16. The one about recognizing people by their fruit.

Jesus is talking about false prophets that come in sheep’s clothing but are actually ravenous wolves. By what you could see on the outside, they were great. All cute and cuddly. You just want to squeeze them! But once you get close, they maul you to death. (I’ve known some church leaders like that.)

This is not a lesson on how we are supposed to produce good things in our lives so that people will see them and see Jesus in us. But Jesus does tell us about some things that would be good to add to our lives. Things he would call righteousness…

He said:

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:2-10, The Beatitudes

Incognito

These qualities are not overtly anything. Not even overtly righteous.

Maybe that’s the point.

Maybe righteousness has zero to do with behavior.

Maybe righteousness and behavior don’t even belong in the same sentence together because they are two completely different things.

Maybe I really am free to let go of what I think you want from me.

Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” -Matthew 6:1, Jesus

This is still part of the Sermon on the Mount. If we do anything that can be perceived as a righteous act, we may be better served to keep it private. What we do not keep private is a pure heart, meekness, mercy…you get the picture. Purely righteous things even if it’s not recognized as such. But it’s amazing how effectively they get the message across.

Letting it Go

None of those truly righteous qualities are mine to begin with. I don’t innately have those in me. Sometimes I think I’m the opposite of all those good things. But that’s the point of righteousness. No one stands out before God as special because of their own merit. It’s not something anyone can possess on their own. .

Let me leave you with one last scripture. Let’s call this our benediction…

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. -Philippians 3:7-9, Paul the Apostle

May we stop trying to win God’s approval, the approval of others, and even self-approval through things we think they will perceive as righteous. May our righteousness be disguised in humility, love and mercy.

Grace and Peace to you.

1. Matthew 7:15-16