Demand #26: Your Righteousness Must Exceed That of The Pharisees - Clean the Inside of the Cup

Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. — Matt. 16:6

You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel! — Matt. 23:24

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean. — Matt. 23:25-26

They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. — Matt. 23:4


From the workbook:

• What reasons for listening to Jesus does Piper list? Can you think of any others that Jesus said?
• How do Jesus’ words lead to eternal life?
• What hinders so many people from being willing to listen to Jesus and truly hearing him and believing the truth of his words?
• Explain what Piper means by a “non-listener” by describing what it means to have “no place” for Jesus’ word, to not be “of the truth,” and to not be “of God.”
• How do you listen to Jesus? How much do you listen to Jesus? How much do you listen to Jesus compared to how much you listen to other competing “voices”?

Demand #25: Your Righteousness Must Exceed That Of The Pharisees, For It was Hypocritical And Ugly

For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. — Matt. 5:20

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. — Matt. 23:27-28

For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person. — Mark 7:21-23

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. — Matt. 5:8

(Reminder: if you do not have the book, you can download it and the workbook free of charge at the link provided on right)


From the workbook:

- What does “out-Pharisee the Pharisees” (pp. 190–195) mean?

- Why do you think the elder son in the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32) wanted to remain in the position of a “deserving servant” rather than a “freely loved son”? What light does this shed on the tendency of the human heart?

- Why do you think money, the praise of man, and illicit sex are some of the most common pitfalls people fall into and the dangers that Jesus warns of most often?

- Why is it that people who are greedy, arrogant, and sexually promiscuous can still look religious?

- How have you participated in hypocrisy? Consider some areas in your life where you have acted or are acting hypocritically. What goes on in your heart at these moments? What are you trusting in and what are you pursuing in being hypocritical? How can you battle this sin in these specific areas?

Demand #24: Strive To Enter Through The Narrow Door, For You Are Already In the Kingdom's Power

Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. — Mark 10:15


What is the “secret of the kingdom” (p. 182)? Does this surprise you? Why or why not? What implications does this have for our striving “to enter through the narrow door”?

What would a presumptuous response to the presence of the kingdom look like? Why shouldn’t we be presumptuous in our joy?

Why might we not take Jesus’ demand to strive seriously? Why might we not sense the urgency of it?

Look over the nine things to remember which help us in our striving on pp. 184–189. Where are these truths taken from? What does this tell you about the importance and function of Scripture in the fight of faith?

Which of the nine truths listed on pp. 184–189 is most meaningful to you? Why? Meditate upon this truth this week and pray that God would use it to help you strive to enter through the narrow door.