God's Righteousness: From Pursuing to Receiving

"That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee." (Deuteronomy 16:20)

"Altogether just" is the best that the King James translators could put together for this verse.

The original Hebrew is vivid and concise:

צֶ֥דֶק צֶ֖דֶק תִּרְדֹּ֑ף לְמַ֤עַן תִּֽחְיֶה֙ וְיָרַשְׁתָּ֣ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ נֹתֵ֥ן לָֽךְ׃ ס


The phrase "Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof" is the motto for the Beth Tzedek law firm based in Los Angeles, CA.

Notice the term "tzedek", which means righteousness, is repeated, demonstrating that this is a superlative noun. "Perfect righteousness" as well as absolute righteousness are effective translations.,

Now, how do we pursue righteousness today?

Actually, we receive it by grace through faith in Christ Jesus!

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)

In fact, Isaiah prophesies about how we will receive righteousness:

"In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee." (Isaiah 54:14)

"Established" is not the same thing as establishing oneself.

That means we receive it!

And Jesus makes that happen!

"For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ." (Romans 5:17)

Because of Jesus, we no longer have to pursue perfect righteousness. We receive it--and keep receiving it!