Theme: WORKING OUT OUR SALVATION WITH FEAR AND TREMBLING
Text: “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.” – Matthew 5:20
Comment: Outward show of righteousness by way of devoted activities in the work of God without the sincere mind of honouring God is totally abhorrent to Him. (See Matthew 7:21) The religious leaders in the time of Jesus Christ our Saviour were selfish and had no fear of God in their hearts. The self-centred life loves to be noticed by others; it loves the praise of men, and is evidently delighted when it is the sole object of admiration. It loves the highest place at functions and draws attention to itself perpetually in one way or another, just as Lucifer did. (Isaiah 14:12-15. See also Luke 20:46) Such a person has no faith in the Biblical charge which says: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes…”. – Proverbs 3:5-7.
Wholesome, undivided service is what is required from us as true Christians by the grace of God. In those days a certain lawyer asked Jesus Christ “Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” When he asked him what was written in the law, “…he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself”. Our Redeemer then told him, “Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.” – Luke 10:25-28.