Most religions are systems of sin management. They almost all acknowledge the same rights and wrongs, which confirms the fact that we were all made by the same God. Even atheists have a similar moral code haunting their brains. Religions offer ways to make yourself right with God, the universe, or whatever. Do better, repent harder, do this ritual this many times, pray just like this. It goes on and on. 

But Jesus teaches that the problem is deeper than surface-level behaviors. As He says, “What comes out of a person, that’s what defiles a person.” No matter how well you scrub, how clever you are in rationalizing your failures, or how well you manage your sins, you don’t move up the ladder an inch, you are as unrighteous as anyone.

The Pharisees of Jesus’ day believed that they were righteous because of their behavior. Now naturally no one can say they are righteous by their behavior. But when you think that you have to be perfect to stand before God, you need to do a couple of things. First, you need to create degrees of sin to excuse it. Hitting someone isn’t as bad as murder, right? Next, you need to rationalize your wrongdoings. Well, if this hadn’t happened then I wouldn’t have acted like that. Next, you need some loopholes! As Jesus pointed out above, the Pharisees invented a legal device to allow a person to divorce their parents, so they don’t need to honor them. In the end, to look at yourself in the mirror and say you’re not a sinner, you have to be one heck of a good lawyer!

Do you know anyone with this sort of religion? Do you ever feel like the Christian life is a never-ending court case in your head? 

But Jesus reveals that the whole system is a scam. Your little rituals, rationalizations, loopholes, and even sin-redefining don’t work. Now you’re just a hypocrite thinking you’re righteous and those people aren’t. You can’t manage sin away. You won’t win. Your religion doesn’t work.

Well, what do you do with this guilt and sin?! You don’t need to hide it. You don’t need to lie to yourself about it. Let Jesus see it. He’ll take it. It’s what he came to do! Remember, Jesus didn’t come for the righteous but the unrighteous. Christ died only for sinners. 

Righteousness is a gift from God paid for by the work of Christ! You are not accepted because you tried your best. You are forgiven, period! For free.  

You aren’t called to a life of managing sin. You are a sinner. You are a saint. That’s how it will be until you’re buried! So, stop playing the shell game with your sins. Your bookkeeping doesn’t add up. But it’s all paid for! You are free to do your best, discipline yourself against your inclinations, and boldly love others, and rest in Christ’s work.