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God is not just interested in whether we look like good Christians.
He’s not only concerned with whether we’re doing the “right” things on the outside.
Jesus is always after something deeper.
He wants our hearts.
Walking close to Jesus isn’t always easy because behavior is one thing.
But heart transformation? That’s another. Heart-work is hard work.
When Jesus Said Something That Felt Impossible
I was reading in Matthew 5 recently — the Sermon on the Mount — and I came across a verse that got my attention.
Jesus said:
“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
(Matthew 5:20)
Now, the Pharisees were.
They were the “holy” ones.
The ones who knew Scripture.
The ones who followed rules.
The ones who looked righteous.
So when Jesus says, “Unless your righteousness is greater than theirs…” it almost feels discouraging.
Like… How is that even possible?
I imagine if I were sitting in this crowd, hearing these words, I would feel disheartened and defeated. If the Pharisees, the keepers of the Law, were not righteous enough to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, how on earth could I make it?
Jesus Didn’t Come to Make Us Better Rule-Followers
Jesus wasn’t telling the crowd to try harder.
He wasn’t saying, “You need to out-perform the Pharisees.”
He was revealing a new way.
He was showing them that righteousness isn’t about a performance.
True righteousness is a matter of the heart.
Just a few verses earlier, Jesus said:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
(Matthew 5:16)
And then He explained:
“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”
(Matthew 5:17)
You and I could never fulfill the law.
We could never keep every command perfectly.
We could never be righteous enough on our own.
We could never “do” enough to be accepted by God.
So Jesus did what we could not do.
He fulfilled the law for us.
Jesus Always Goes Deeper
Then Jesus begins to teach a new way to righteousness, with a focus on the heart, not performance.
He takes what his listeners have always heard — the Law — and He goes straight to the heart.
He says:
“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’…
But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty…”
(Matthew 5:21–22)
In other words:
God isn’t just looking at what your hands have done.
He’s looking at what your heart is holding.
And then Jesus says:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;
but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
(Matthew 5:27–28)
Again… deeper.
Not just actions.
Not just appearances.
Not just “Did you cross the line?” Every indulgence in sin, every act of rebellion against God, it all starts in the heart. It starts with a thought, a desire, a lie we believe, an unmet need. Then it manifests itself in an outward action. What’s going on inside you determines your actions. Our actions are the outward results of the condition of our heart.
Then Jesus says:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
(Matthew 5:43–44)
It’s not human nature to love your enemies. It’s ,divine. In our own strength we are not able to love our enemies, no matter how hard we try. As we are walking with Jesus He gives us the ability to forgive and love by the power of the Holy Spirit.
This Is Why We Need Jesus So Much
We need a Savior.
We don’t just need better habits.
We don’t just need stronger willpower.
We don’t just need to “try harder.”
We need a new heart.
And only Jesus can give us that.
True Righteousness Isn’t for Show
This is what Jesus was exposing when He mentioned the Pharisees.
Their righteousness was often for the public eye.
It was often for approval. It was about being seen and admired by others.
But Jesus is calling us to a deeper righteousness.
A righteousness that isn’t about being impressive.
A righteousness that isn’t about being perfect.
A righteousness that isn’t about looking spiritual.
It’s a righteousness that comes from the inside out.
It’s what happens when you and I get close enough to Jesus for Him to change what we love.
To change what we crave.
To change what we tolerate.
To change what we run to.
This is not something you and I can manufacture.
This is something God does in us when we stay near Him.
God Wants to Go Deeper in You (Even in This Season)
I don’t know what season you’re in right now.
Maybe you’re in a season where you feel exhausted and stretched thin.
Maybe you’re in a season where you’re trying so hard to be a “good mom,” a “good wife,” a “good Christian,” a “good woman,” and you still feel like you’re falling short.
Maybe you’re in a season where you feel like you’re starting over spiritually.
Or maybe you’re in a season where you’ve walked with the Lord for a long time… but you know deep down that God is calling you deeper.
God is drawing you closer.
And the beautiful thing about Jesus is that He doesn’t just point out what’s wrong.
He gives us the power to change.
The Good News: God Changes Us from the Inside Out
This is the gospel.
Jesus fulfilled the law.
Jesus paid the price.
Jesus gives us grace.
And Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to live inside of us.
So we can begin to live a life that doesn’t even make sense to the outside world. We start to want the things God wants. We desire His approval more than the approval of others.
A life of forgiveness.
A life of humility.
A life of purity.
A life of love.
A life of surrender.
Not because we’re strong, or good, or holy…
But because He is.
If You’re Struggling, You’re Not Disqualified
If you’ve messed up… you’re not disqualified.
If you’ve fallen short… you’re not disqualified.
If you’ve said the wrong thing, done the wrong thing, reacted the wrong way…
God is not done with you.
His grace is enough.
And His mercy is new.
And Jesus is still calling you — not to fake it, not to pretend, not to perform…
But to come closer.
To let Him do the deeper work.
A Prayer for You
Father,
I thank You for my friend reading this today. You see her. You know what she’s carrying, and You know where she feels weary.
Lord, I pray that You would draw her close to You. Help her to understand that You are not asking her to perform — You are inviting her to be transformed.
Give her a new hunger for Your Word. Give her a tender heart. And where she feels discouraged, I pray You would replace it with hope.
Thank You that Your grace is enough. Thank You that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Do the deeper work in us, Lord — from the inside out.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.
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