Exceeding the Righteousness of the Legalists: Three areas that the legalists of Jesus' day claimed to be pure, but were far from it, were the area of adultery, divorce, and oath keeping. Jesus reveals the heart of the law, so that his followers would understand that what goes on inside of us is as important as what happens on the outside. His teaching points us to grace, which is the only way to live in the righteousness that far surpasses any legalist.