The Pharisees were a very strong political, religious sect of the Jews who were very strict in following the old testament law and a few that they had added along the way by keeping "the traditions of the fathers." They were the extreme legalists of their day and were somewhat like a political party among the Jewish people. The Scribes, some of which were Pharisees as well, were the "lawyers" of the day and were well versed in the law. The Scribes could draft all the legal documents of the day. From the beginning of Christ’s ministry on earth, He often directly confronted the Pharisees and the scribes for their self righteousness and for the fact that they added to the law many of their own "taboos" and traditions as though they were the law from God. They thought that they were following God; but they were standing upon their own pride and strength to do so. They were not even able to see their Messiah when He came to Earth. Let’s look at Matthew 5.
Matthew 5: 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Christ had come to fulfill the law. He was the only one who could truly live righteously as the righteous, Holy Son of God. He was the only unblemished lamb who could pay the penalty of man’s sin once and for ever; so that any who believed in Him as their Savior could become justified before God and to be clothed with the Righteousness of Christ. Every jot and tittle of the law including the atoning sacrifice would have to be fulfilled. The righteousness that Christ is calling us to is one that comes from the central core of a broken and contrite heart that is seeking God, savoring Him, and is willing to die to self to follow Him. The Pharisees stood on their own outward righteousness; but their hearts remained so dark to the light of God that they did not recognize Christ as their Savior.
So where are you? Are you trying to fulfill the letter of the law with your own might and power? Do you believe yourself to be a good person? Or have you stood before a Gloriously Righteous God whom you see as so Magnificent that you realize your utter unworthiness to stand before Him and your desperate need for a righteousness greater than your own that can only come from a Savior? Have you ever fallen prostrate to the floor crying unto God "Lord, I have nothing within this covetous, self exalting heart to bring before you; except to cling to the truth that Christ died for me. Let the light of your righteousness shine into my heart to dispel as the darkness. My greatest desire is to seek, savoir and to follow after Christ with all my heart, my flesh and my soul. Lord, lead me where ever You will that I might reflect your light and your righteousness to a world that has been darkened by sin.