Jesus said: "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven." What does this mean? Many of the scribes and Pharisees based their relationship with God on eternal observances and practices, even doing these radically. But Jesus pegged them when he said their hearts were far from the Lord in fact.

What is the righteousness Jesus expects from his disciples? I think St. Paul best summed  it up. "Whatever  you do in word or deed, do all  in the name of the Lord (in love), giving thanks to God the Father through Christ." Paul is merely summing up the two great Commandments Jesus taught. Love God with your whole heart, mind and strength and love others as Jesus has loved us.

Our righteousness is to be based on love not obligation, on an interior attitude of love, not on a mere eternal observance. What is your motive and reason in what you do? Is our relationship with God a "have to" or a choice in love?