We can look at Sodom in the days of Abraham and believe that 10 righteous people could not be found. It was exceedingly wicked. However, when Jesus preaches the Sermon on the Mount, He lets the people know that their righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees' if the people wished to see salvation. To the average listener, this would have been more shocking than Sodom being void of 10 righteous people.
Genesis 13 reminds us that Abram's descendants will be like the dust of the earth. Such numbers are understood not in biological Jews, but in the children of Abraham by faith. The children of God in Christ!
Genesis 14 contains the great story of Melchizedek. I never noticed before that he offers Abram "bread and wine," the very elements presented by Christ at the last supper, and reproduced in our communion services. The author of Hebrews reminds us that Abram offered Melchizedek a tithe, thus Abram acknowledges the Priesthood outside of Levi.
Genesis 15 points to Christ as we see the promised child for Abraham. Righteousness is imputed to Abraham by faith--He believes God and it is credited to him.
Genesis 16 exposes to us that Abraham's faith was not sinless, for he commits adultery in his effort to fulfill God's promises. Yet we also see God's general grace to all that Hagar receives care from the Lord as well.
In Genesis 17 Abram receives his name Abraham as well as the sign of the covenant, circumcision. Abraham's heart is still with Ishmael, yet God corrects him that He has a better way!
Genesis 18 must be about the same time as Genesis 17. In 17:21 and 18:10 we see the timeframe had to be close. Yet here, Sarah also hears the promise. God's close relationship with Abraham is revealed when He is not willing to hide His intentions from Abraham. We also see that Abraham understood the city of Sodom, for he was compelled to lower the number to 10 righteous men.
Matthew 5 lays out that the Sermon on the Mount is about confronting the "righteousness" of the Pharisees. Instead, a life must be marked by the effects of repentance. And if any man thinks He is righteous, Christ reveals that He is not adjusting or changing the Law to make righteousness more attainable. Instead, Jesus reveals the intent behind the Laws, not a high standard of behavior, but a genuine heart change.
In Matthew 6, Jesus reveals why the Pharisees would love their own system for righteousness--it brings them personal accolades. People respect them and think much of them. Yet, Jesus exhorts the people not to be hung up with the perspective of others. He also calls them to see the real value of salvation, that our anxieties for clothing and shelter are foolish when we consider the lengths God is willing to go to in providing for our souls.
Abraham's actions would not appear any better than the Pharisees. Yet, because of his dependance upon God for his righteousness, his righteousness did exceed that of the Pharisees, for Abraham's righteousness was Christ's!
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