Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5: 17-20)

This is a very conservative sounding preface for a radical reform of the law. In the sermon that follows Jesus "fulfills" an eye for an eye with turning the other cheek, transforms neighbor love into loving one's enemies, and teaches non-resistance, non-anxiety and much more.

The implicit goal set out by Jesus is entering the kingdom of the heaven. The goal is achieved by practicing and teaching the fulfilled commandments.

Our righteousness - the Greek is dikaiosune - must exceed that of the most religious to enter the kingdom of heaven. Religion and righteousness are contrasted, even set in opposition to one another.

Again, Jesus was probably not speaking Greek but Aramaic and his Aramaic preaching was influenced heavily by the Hebrew scriptures. The Aramaic that we would translate as righteousness is tsidqah, the Hebrew is tsedaqah. Very close.

In the Hebrew bible Isaiah is the great prophet of righteousness. In Isaiah tsedaqah is social justice and individual potential fulfilled. Equality and freedom are both achieved. Tsedaqah is also - and crucially - the fundamental character of God. Righteousness is something that only God can bring about. "The Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all nations." (Isaiah 6:11)

But if God is the only source of righteousness, how can we practice and teach what we cannot achieve?