A certain Christian during his daily devotions was reading in Second Chronicles. The subject was the dedication of the Temple. Solomon's constant reference to himself in Chapter Six seemed out of character for a man of God.

The interjection of Solomon's personality into the building of the Temple of God, a matter so important to God and His will for man, is repulsive. One wonders if people are repelled when we interject our personality as we are presenting the Lord Jesus!

The Christian contemplating this passage had been taught for many years that glory belongs to God alone. No matter how God may use us we always are to give the glory to God and not talk about what we have done. So this passage with the frequent "I have built" did not appear to be in keeping with the ideal of always giving glory to God alone.

We know that Solomon had many excellent qualities. We understand also that he multiplied horses to himself, which is forbidden to a king. He married numerous heathen wives and they turned his heart away from God so that he burned incense to demons. The result of Solomon's wickedness was the permanent division of the twelve tribes of Israel into the competing nations of Israel and Judah.

Solomon was righteous in some areas of his personality and behavior and unrighteous in others.

During his devotions the person asked the Lord why Solomon kept referring to his own glory ("the house which I have built for thy name").

The Lord's response was, "He didn't know any better."

Solomon was rebuked by the Lord for burning incense to heathen gods because he had learned from his Father, David, and from the priests of the Lord that to do so is against the Law of Moses. But there is nothing in the Law about giving yourself the glory when you build the Temple of God. Therefore God did not rebuke him for this but rather filled the Temple with His Divine Glory.

God's answer ("he didn't know any better") set in motion a train of thought which finally arrived at the following verse:

For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed {the righteousness} of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)

The Christian over a period of fifty-one years had read that verse many times. However, the meaning of it was not clear because of his early training in "grace." He had a general idea we were supposed to have a better heart toward God than the scribes and Pharisees, but there was also the lingering concept that the righteousness that has been imputed (ascribed) to us through the Lord Jesus is infinitely superior to that of the Pharisee who was striving to keep the Law of Moses and that this is what the Lord meant by "your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees."

There is no question that we are to have a better heart toward God than was true of many of the scribes and Pharisees, and also that the righteousness ascribed to us when we receive the Lord Jesus is infinitely superior to that of the Pharisee who was striving to keep the Law of Moses.

Then the simplicity of the verse struck him: "If we do not behave more righteously than was true of the scribes and Pharisees we will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven."

Unless Solomon stops taking glory to himself and burning incense to demons he will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Unless Gideon stops making ephods and worshiping them he will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Unless the scribes and Pharisees forsake their covetousness and envy they will not be allowed to enter the Kingdom of God.

Unless we who believe in the Lord Jesus abandon our worldly, sinful, self-seeking practices we will in no manner enter the Kingdom of God.

This is the simple, clear meaning of Matthew 5:20. (from Except Your Righteousness Shall Exceed)