I said that except your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees you would not enter the Kingdom of God. Do you know enough about the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees to know how shocking this statement was? By their own standards they excelled and they applied spiritual principles to every aspect of life as an expression of total commitment. Many of their practices have direct equivalents among Christians today. So it was a strong statement for me to say that you had to do better than that. Does this imply a different standard for righteousness?

Do you think of honor and humility as opposites? You look at those who grasp for honor for themselves and see no humility in them. Yet what about those who are honored even though they did not pursue it? Do they seem humbled to be recognized? Has this ever happened to you? I spoke of those who gave alms and did other good deeds before men to be seen of them, and said that they already had their reward. But I told my followers to do their good deeds in a way that would not draw attention to them, and that their Father in heaven would take notice and reward them openly.

Have you noticed that some people change the atmosphere of a room just by walking in? Even before they say anything their presence is felt, for better or for worse. Focusing on the positive, can you see that these are gifts of God? You think of the Word as being living and powerful, but do you see that these attributes apply to everything pertaining to God? God’s gifts are living and dynamic even as they reside in the people who receive them, so they may let their light shine before men to the glory of God. You too are an epistle read by all men. What gifts enter a room with you?

Have you heard of fighting fire with fire? This implies that you can do unto others as they do unto you, but fire is more commonly fought with water, and this alone should cause you to question this proverb. Have you also heard it said that all is fair in love and war? This goes beyond the previous idea to say that there are no limits on behavior. Do you see how these both go against the teaching of the Bible; that you should act with character and integrity, doing what is right by internal motivations rather than allowing others to set your standards, or doing without any.