Joseph, to whom she was engaged, was a righteous man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.

“But I warn you—unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.

Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be given a reward like theirs.

I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but they didn’t see it. And they longed to hear what you hear, but they didn’t hear it.

Then the righteous will shine like the sun in their Father’s Kingdom. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!

That is the way it will be at the end of the world. The angels will come and separate the wicked people from the righteous,

Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

As a result, you will be held responsible for the murder of all godly people of all time—from the murder of righteous Abel to the murder of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you killed in the Temple between the sanctuary and the altar.

“Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?

“And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations.

in holiness and righteousness for as long as we live.

The Prophecy of Simeon

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him

I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.”

In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!

Then he said to them, “You like to appear righteous in public, but God knows your hearts. What this world honors is detestable in the sight of God.

Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else:

The Burial of Jesus

Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council,

And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment.

Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.

“O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me.