Righteousness Beyond the Pharisees
“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.” Matt. 5:20. The Pharisees were great sticklers for the law. The word “Pharisee” means “one separated.” The idea was that those who formed that sect were separated from the rest of the world, because of their superior piety in adhering so strictly to the law. But their piety was only outward. They kept the form, or letter, of the law, but not the spirit or real intent of it. Now the Saviour did not condemn them for keeping the letter of the law, but for not keeping the spirit also. He says that our righteousness must exceed theirs. To exceed is to do the same amount and a great deal more. We could not exceed them in righteousness without keeping the letter of the law as strictly as they did. Then if while strictly obeying the letter, we serve in spirit also, we have the promise of eternal life. Two BILLS have been introduced into the New York Legislature, declaring boycotting not to be a conspiracy or misdemeanor under the law. All lovers of justice and good order will hope that these bills may never become laws.