Tsidkenu – The Lord Our Righteousness

The Mystery of God

Jesus did more than clear your debt—He clothed you in righteousness!

Psalm 103:1–5 (ESV)

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and all that is within me,

    bless his holy name!

2 Bless the Lord, O my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits,

3 who forgives all your iniquity,

Can I truly be righteous, or is that just wishful thinking?

Text: Luke 7:40–50 (ESV)

40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he canceled the debt of both. Now, which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he canceled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then, turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

• They were both broke, but only one was broken.

• It was not the amount of their debt that separated the two—it was the awareness of their debt.

#1 His Righteousness Has a Name

When the religious leaders saw Jesus forgive the woman, they asked, “Who is this man that forgives sins?” (Luke 7:49). That’s exactly the right question—because His righteousness has a name:

5 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’” (Jeremiah 23:5–6, ESV)

Yahweh Tsidkenu

צְדָקָה – Right standing, justice, fairness, or just scales.

Four Types of Righteousness:

• God’s righteousness

• Christ’s righteousness

• Self-righteousness

• Imputed righteousness

God’s righteousness is not earned; it’s exchanged.

“The cross is the lightning rod of grace that short-circuited God’s wrath, leaving only the light of His love.” — A.W. Tozer

#2 His Righteousness Is Received by Faith

Jesus said to her, “Your faith has saved you.” (Luke 7:50, ESV)

How much faith does it take?

The issue is not the amount of faith but the object of faith—Jesus, our righteousness.

Psalm 103:3

“…who forgives all your iniquity,”

• Forgives – to pardon.

• Iniquity – guilt.

• Key word – ALL.

“A pardon is a deed, to the validity of which delivery is essential, and delivery is not complete without acceptance. It may then be rejected by the person to whom it is tendered; and if it is rejected, we have discovered no power in this court to force it upon him.” – Chief Justice John Marshall, 1830

#3 His Righteousness Is an Unfair Exchange

The last thing Jesus says to the woman is: “Go in peace.” (Luke 7:50, ESV)

The unfairness of His grace is precisely its power!

“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”(2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

There is no such thing as partial righteousness.

“The saved man is not perfect but perfectly loved, desiring perfection through Christ alone.” — A.W. Tozer

• His forgiveness is total—you’re fully forgiven, not partially pardoned.

• Your identity is no longer your sin but fully in Christ.

• His righteousness covers you completely—there’s no condemnation.