Introduction

How can I gain entry into God’s kingdom?

In this section, Jesus addresses one of the most important and enduring questions people ask:
“How can I gain entry into God's kingdom?”
If God exists and has a kingdom, then gaining entrance means not only securing eternity, but also experiencing His love, guidance, provision, and protection in this life (cf. Psalm 23).

The Question: how do you get in?

Interestingly, Jesus gave two different answers to this question—depending on who was asking. Around here, we call these two answers:

• Plan A: Earn your way in by fulfilling God’s Law
• Plan B: Receive it as a gift through grace (more on this later)

In this passage, Jesus focuses on Plan A because most of His audience assumed they were getting in that way.

PLAN A: earn your way by obeying God’s Law

“Plan A” seems straightforward: Obey God’s Law—especially the moral law of the Old Testament, summarized in the Ten Commandments.

• This was the consensus of the religious leaders in Jesus’ day.
• It is also the view of most world religions (e.g., Islam) and even some forms of “Christian” religion.
• Many in our own culture hold this view—maybe even you.

But in this passage, Jesus delivers bad news to those depending on Plan A.

Warning

Read Matthew 5:20.
Jesus declares that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees—the most respected religious leaders—you cannot enter the kingdom.

Modern equivalent: “Unless you are far more righteous than Billy Graham and Mother Theresa, you won’t make it in.”

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Six examples that raise the Standard

In verses 21–47, Jesus critiques how the scribes and Pharisees lowered the standard of righteousness. For each example, Jesus contrasts their diluted interpretation with His own authoritative standard.

Let’s evaluate ourselves on Plan A as we go:

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1. “You shall not commit murder”

• Scribes’ View (5:21): You’re righteous if you haven’t killed anyone.
• Jesus’ View (5:22): Even sinful anger or contempt is guilty enough to warrant hell.

Ask yourself:
Have I ever been sinfully angry toward anyone?
➡️ If yes, you're not righteous enough for God’s kingdom.

2. “You shall not commit adultery”

• Scribes’ View (5:27): You’re fine as long as you haven’t had an affair.
• Jesus’ View (5:28): Lustful thoughts are equivalent in God's eyes.

Ask yourself:
Have I ever sexually lusted after someone?
➡️ If yes, you’re not righteous enough.

3. Wrongful divorce

• Scribes’ Practice (5:31): Permitted divorce for any trivial reason.
• Jesus’ View (5:32): Even legally sanctioned but relationally betraying divorce incurs God’s judgment.

Ask yourself:
Have I ever wrongly broken a relational commitment?
➡️ If yes, you’re not righteous enough.

4. Making false vows

• Scribes’ View (5:33): As long as you avoid perjury in court, you’re fine.
• Jesus’ View (5:34–37): All your speech is before God—be consistently honest.

Ask yourself:
Have I ever lied or broken a promise?
➡️ If yes, you’re not righteous enough.

5. “Eye for an eye”

• Scribes’ Abuse (5:38): Used this legal principle to justify personal revenge.
• Jesus’ View (5:39–42): True righteousness means rejecting vengeance and repaying evil with good.

Ask yourself:
Have I ever taken revenge on someone?
➡️ If yes, you’re not righteous enough.

6. “Love your neighbor”

• Scribes’ Twist (5:43): Neighbor = people like you; others can be hated.
• This justified ethnic and religious bigotry (e.g., hating Samaritans or Gentiles).

Jesus rejects this kind of selective love entirely (next section continues His teaching).

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Jesus concludes “Plan A” and introduces “Plan B”

Jesus finishes this section by completely rejecting the Pharisees’ diluted interpretation of God’s Law.

“Love your enemies”

Read Matthew 5:44–47.
True righteousness means always seeking the good of even those who persecute you because of your allegiance to God. Why? Because this is how God treats us.

Ask yourself:
Have I ever harbored bigotry toward anyone?
➡️ If yes, you are not righteous enough to enter God’s kingdom.

The bottom line: perfection required

Read Matthew 5:48 – “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Just in case you missed the point: if you’re trying to earn your way into God’s kingdom, the passing grade is perfection—not “better than most,” but flawless obedience to God’s law.

Read James 2:10 – The law is like a chain: break one link, and the whole chain is broken.

Ask yourself:
Can you honestly say “No” to all of the questions we’ve covered?
➡️ If not (and none of us can!), then you are not righteous enough for God’s kingdom.
➡️ As Paul writes in Romans 3:23, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

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PLAN B: Let Jesus fulfill the Law for you

If Plan A is the only way to enter God’s kingdom, we’re all in serious trouble.
But thankfully, Jesus also offers Plan B—and He hints at it in Matthew 5:17 (read).

“Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.”

“Plan B” doesn’t lower the standard of righteousness—it simply shifts the burden of fulfilling it onto Jesus.

Three ways Jesus fulfills the Law

1. Jesus fulfilled the Law by living it perfectly

• He’s the only person who actually lived out Matthew 5:21–48.
• He said, “I always do what pleases [God]” (John 8:29) and asked, “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” (John 8:46).
• But if that’s all He did, we’d still be condemned.

2. Jesus fulfilled the penalty of the Law by dying for us

• Jesus didn’t come to replace “Plan A” with “Plan B” as a last-minute idea.
• “Plan B” was in the Law all along—pictured in the sacrificial system, which showed that sin deserves death, but God would send a Substitute.

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Isaiah 53:5–6 – The Prophets predicted this.
John 1:29 – John the Baptist identified Jesus as this Lamb.
Mark 10:45; John 19:30 – Jesus claimed and fulfilled this mission.

No one else has ever lived a perfect life and willingly died to pay for others' sins.
That’s why entry into God’s kingdom is only through Him.

3. Jesus now fulfills the Law in us through His Spirit

Read Romans 8:4.
When you trust Jesus to pay for your sins, His Spirit enters your life. He gives you:

• A new desire to do God’s will
• A new power to actually live it out (cf. Philippians 2:13)

This is how He begins to fulfill the Law in you, gradually forming you into a person of love (Romans 13:8). You can now view the Sermon on the Mount not as an impossible standard, but as a preview of what Jesus is forming in you.

Why teach “Plan A”?

If Plan B is the only real way in, why does Jesus emphasize Plan A?

Because until we’re convinced that we can’t succeed under Plan A, we’ll never see the need for Plan B.

Our biggest obstacle is not our sin, but our self-righteousness.

Just like a good doctor helps a patient recognize their condition so they’ll receive treatment, Jesus lovingly uses Plan A to convince us that we need Plan B.

‍Conclusion

PLAN A & B: God does have a kingdom, and getting into it is the most important issue in your life. There are only twoways to enter it. Which way will you choose? If this is clear to you, don’t delay – choose today!