In Matthew 23:23–28, Jesus exposes the danger of appearing righteous on the outside while remaining corrupt within. The scribes and Pharisees were meticulous about outward religious observance, yet they neglected the “weightier matters of the law”—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Like cups polished on the outside and whitewashed tombs hiding death within, their religion could not produce the righteousness God requires.

In this sermon, Todd Fletcher examines Jesus’ warning against outward religion and the deeper problem of the human heart. True righteousness is not something we can manufacture through religious performance, morality, or appearances. What we need is a righteousness not our own—the perfect righteousness of Christ received by faith.