What did Jesus mean when He said our righteousness must surpass that of the Pharisees? In Matthew 5:17–20, Jesus makes it clear He didn’t come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it, and then calls His followers to a higher, deeper kind of righteousness. This message explores how Kingdom people are not defined by comparison to others or religious performance, but by distinctiveness that flows from Christ Himself. Jesus offers a righteousness unlike that of the Pharisees, Sadducees, Zealots, or Essenes. This Kingdom righteousness is rooted in the Spirit, not appearance. It changes how we live, love, and shine in a world that has lost its flavor.