How do we know our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees?

In Matthew 5:20, Jesus makes it clear that the righteousness required to enter the Kingdom of Heaven exceeds the outward righteousness of the Pharisees, who were seen as paragons of virtue in Jewish society. This teaching emphasizes that mere external compliance with the law is inadequate; true righteousness involves heart commitment and spiritual purity. The call is not just to follow the law externally but to have a heart transformed and aligned with God's will, which only Christ fulfills on behalf of His people.