God's Righteousness

Have you ever wondered what Jesus meant by

“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:20 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/mat.5.20.nkjv

The explanation is in the" Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector" 

 “Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:”

Luke 18:9 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/luk.18.9.nkjv

The Pharisee in the parable was seeking justification on the basis of his own righteousness: “I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax-gatherer. I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get” (vv. 11 –12). We commonly call such people self-righteous. Have you ever considered why? It is because they assume they have ample righteousness of their own and do not see the need for imputed righteousness.

But the tax-gatherer was under no such delusion. All he could do was repent and plead for mercy. And so perfect righteousness was imputed to his account. Forever thereafter he stood before God fully justified.

That's why  Jesus is saying in Sermon on the Mount that "your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees," 

This what Paul is saying as :-

 “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.”

Romans 10:3 NKJV

http://bible.com/114/rom.10.3.nkjv