So who are the real Pharisees? As we have seen in this study, the way they are described in the Scriptures is often not what is intended by those who would use the label today.
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August 7, 2017
The Real Pharisees: Conclusion
July 31, 2017
The Real Pharisees (Part 17): The Pharisees Wanted to Hold Onto Parts of the Old Law
“But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses’” (Acts 15:5).
Despite all of the problems that we have seen with the Pharisees throughout this study, some of them had evidently believed and obeyed the gospel. A notable example of this was Paul (Acts 26:5; 9:1-18). However, many of them held onto the same attitudes and continued to be “zealous for the Law” (Acts 21:20).
Because of this, certain ones came to Antioch – a church with a large number of Gentile disciples (Acts 11:19-21) and where they were “first called Christians” (Acts 11:26) – and taught, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” (Acts 15:1). Luke recorded that “Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them” (Acts 15:2) because this teaching would effectively bring these disciples “into bondage” (Galatians 2:4).
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July 24, 2017
The Real Pharisees (Part 16): The Pharisees Overemphasized Making Converts
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15).
One might wonder how it could be possible to overemphasize making converts. After all, one of the principal works that we have been given – both individually and collectively – is to try to turn people to the Lord. The New Testament places a good deal of emphasis on making converts.
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July 17, 2017
The Real Pharisees (Part 15): The Pharisees Overemphasized Human Tradition
“Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, ‘Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.’ And He answered and said to them, ‘Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, “Honor your father and mother,” and, “He who speaks evil of father or mother is to be put to death.” But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever I have that would help you has been given to God,’ he is not to honor his father or his mother.” And by this you invalidated the word of God for the sake of your tradition.’
“‘You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me. But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men”’” (Matthew 15:1-9).
Jesus confronted the Pharisees over their traditions. The Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples broke “the tradition of the elders” (Matthew 15:2). In response, Jesus asked them why they allowed their tradition to serve as justification for them to “transgress the commandment of God” (Matthew 15:3). They were zealously defending their traditions instead of the law of God.
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July 10, 2017
The Real Pharisees (Part 14): The Pharisees Honored God’s Spokesmen
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, and say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets” (Matthew 23:29-31).
We might wonder why Jesus said what He did on this occasion. He condemned the Pharisees as hypocrites for building monuments to honor the prophets that had been killed by their forefathers. Consider a couple of points:
- It is good to recognize and respect those who faithfully proclaim God’s word (cf. Hebrews 13:7).
- It is also unfair to hold people guilty for the sins of their fathers (Ezekiel 18:20).
With these two points in mind, how could Jesus condemn the Pharisees and associate them with the sins of those who lived generations before them, especially when it appeared as though they were honoring the prophets instead of opposing them?
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July 3, 2017
The Real Pharisees (Part 13): The Pharisees Loved the Praise of Men
“But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love the place of honor at banquets and the chief seats in the synagogues, and respectful greetings in the market places, and being called Rabbi by men.
“But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (Matthew 23:5-12).
The Pharisees, in their arrogance, believed they were better than others. We discussed this in an earlier lesson when Jesus exposed those “who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt” (Luke 18:9) by comparing the prayers of a Pharisee and a tax collector (Luke 18:10-14). The Pharisees had this elevated estimation of themselves and they wanted others to see it as well. In order to receive this recognition, they did three things:
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June 26, 2017
The Real Pharisees (Part 12): The Pharisees Were Concerned with Outward Appearances
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive greater condemnation” (Matthew 23:14).
We already discussed the first part of this verse (devouring widow’s houses) to see how they took advantage of others. Now we are going to consider the second part: “For a pretense you make long prayers.” When something is done “for a pretense,” it is done for a show. It is all about what other people see.
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