Right Thinking for Righteousness - Pastor Mike Hovland

Matthew 5:17-20

As we continue through the Sermon on the Mount Jesus now transitions into the main body of the sermon. Jesus just told us that as salt and light we are to do good works before men so that they might glorify our Father in heaven (Matt 5:16). The question naturally arises then, “What kind of good works are these and how do we do them?” The body of the sermon answers those questions (Matt 5:17–7:12). The introductory four verses that we will look at this week (Matt 5:17–20) show more specifically that these good works are founded on the authority of the Scriptures. The Old Testament retains its authority for Jesus’ disciples as the word of the eternal God, but it has to be understood in light of its fulfillment through Jesus Christ. This is critical for us to understand because Jesus says, “unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). The righteousness that glorifies God, or the good works that glorify God, are the result of obedience to our heavenly Father‘s voice in the Scriptures.