Full of It

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.
Matthew 5:20 NKJV

Don't misunderstand this verse. Jesus is not condoning the so-called righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Yes, they knew the law, the Torah. To anyone looking on, they appeared pious. They dressed the part... on the outside. However, in Matthew 25:27-28, Jesus declares, Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. In today's vernacular, they were full of themselves. There was nothing Godly inside of them.

God wants our hearts to be after His own heart - loving, forgiving, compassionate, and eager to do His will. To exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, we need to remember that God looks at the heart, not at the outward appearance. What are we full of?

Prayer:

Father:
           We pray as David prayed, Give us understanding, and we will keep your law and obey it with all our heart. For the sake of Your Name, O Lord, forgive our iniquity, though it is great. Have mercy on us, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to Your abundant mercy blot out our transgressions. Wash us thoroughly from our iniquity, and cleanse us from our sin! Make us beautiful in YOUR sight. The only thing we want to be full of is You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen