Pharisaical Righteousness
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness; for they shall be filled." Matt. 5:6. However, do not overlook the warning that "except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." Verse 20. What is the righteousness of Pharisees?—It is self-righteousness. How is it manifested?—It is manifested in judging and condemning others, in condemning every one in whom is seen a real or imaginary or reported fault. They who do this virtually say, "We are faultless;" it is their way of calling attention to their own righteousness. "Report, say they, and we will report it" (Jer. 20:10), and they generally aim to report where it will cut the deepest wound. The Pharisee should remember Rom. 2:1: "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest; for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." So inexcusable is the pharisaeal act of one object of mercy assuming to condemn another, that the sin of the condemned one attaches to the self-constituted judge. It was to this class that Jesus said, "Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you." Matt. 21:31. There is more hope of the publicans and harlots becoming truly converted.