Evangelist

Chris Pruitt

Elders

Chuck Claiborne

Leonard Leavitt

Billy Hale

Deacons

Charlie Brown

Richard Kopydlowski

2424 McCarran St.

North Las Vegas, NV   89030

(702) 642-3141

Times of Services

Sunday

Bible Class:  9:00 am

Services:  9:50 am

Services:  6:00 pm

Wednesday

Bible Class:  7:30 pm

    Addressing His disciples on the Sermon on the mount, Jesus exposes the Pharisees and says, “for I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven”  (Matt. 5.20).  The scribes and Pharisees were regarded as the religious elite.  They had authority to cast anyone out of the temple.  If our righteousness must go beyond that of these exalted religious icons, it becomes imperative that we understand the nature of their righteousness.

    The Pharisees were known for compelling others to sacrifice and serve.  However, they were unwilling to follow their own instructions.  Jesus warned that the scribes and Pharisees “bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers”  (Matt. 23.4).  

     The Pharisees seemed to be righteous.  However, they only appeared to be on the outside.  They put great effort to appear righteous before others, but did not do anything to purify their hearts.  Therefore they appeared as “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and uncleanness”  (Matt. 23.27).

    The Pharisees loved to be on the receiving end of praise.  They enjoyed the recognition of their elitist position by being called “rabbi” (Matt. 23.7).  They often called attention to themselves by making their “phylacteries broad” and enlarging the “borders of their garment”  (Matt. 23.5).  Their interest was not in exalting the name of God, but in exalting themselves.

    How do Christians ensure that their righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees?   Be sure that righteousness is not just for show.  Christians who need others to believe that they are righteous are only trying to deceive others and have already deceived themselves.  Do you want to be righteous?  True righteousness comes by first cleansing “the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also”  (Matt. 23.26).  

     True righteousness originates from the heart when one honestly and sincerely lives by the righteousness revealed within the word of God.  For when our heart is right, then the actions will follow  (James 2.18; Col. 3.22,23)  CLP