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Modern-Day Pharisees
Introduction:
Extremes beget extremes! This has always been true. The group
known as “Pharisee” basically arose this way. While many, if not
most, of the Jews during the second and third centuries B.C. were
becoming more and more like their Gentile neighbors, the Pharisees
went in the opposite direction. They insisted on keeping the
Mosaical Law but also the “tradtions of the elders,” their customs,
applications, and interpretations of the Law which often were far
more strict than God had intended. They claimed these were just as
binding as the Law itself. And when their traditions and God’s Law
came in conflict, they rejected the Law and followed their own
tradition. See
Mark 7:6-9.
Theme:
While Pharisees had some commendable characteristics, their attitude
and inconsistencies concerning God’s Law were at the heart of many
of our Savior’s most severe rebukes. But we today can become just
as deserving of rebuke as they were. We can harbor the same bad
attitudes in our heart and apply God’s law just as inconsistently as
they did. We will examine in our lesson today how this is
possible.
Text:
Matthew
23:1-30
Body:
I.
Verses 1-4
Jesus tells his followers to obey the Pharisees when they spoke the
truth, whenever their commands came from the Law. He warns of their
hypocrisy and that they made laws for God. They had burdensome laws
which God did not authorize.
Application:
We must be certain what we teach and practice comes from God’s Word,
not our own traditions. We must not make matters of judgment as
important as matters of doctrine. Also, it’s easy to make
allowances for ourselves, our families, our friends, but not for
others. We openly condemn a fault in others which we, or our
family, or close friends, have; but which we never say anything
about! This is modern-day Phariseeism. (James
2:8-9)
II.
Verses 5-12
The Pharisees loved to show off their religion. They wanted people
to know how very spiritual they were. (Phylacteries were
small boxes containing Bible passages that were worn on the forehead
or arm. Tassels were worn on the corners of garments in
order to remind the Israelites of God’s laws.) This attitude was
further seen in their desire to sit in the best seats, those of
honor, where their great spirituality could be best shown. They
coveted greetings out in the streets. “Oh look! Here come God’s
loyal ones.” They wanted special religious titles to be applied to
them. They wanted preeminence as Diotrephes did. (III
John 9)
Application: Is the reason we attend services because we want
people to think we are religious? Do we attend solely our evening
services as if to say: “Look at what a good Christian I am?” If
that is the reason, we are as well off at home. What really
matters? We need to be humble, daily servants of God. Read
verse 11
again.
III.
Verses
13-15
The Pharisees did all they could to keep people out of the kingdom,
including themselves. Instead, they did all in their power to win
others to their own exclusive group; thus making them far worse
off. Application: Many in the Lord’s church have drawn
circles, saying that if you don’t dot “i’s “ and cross “t’s” just
like we do, you are not faithful. Many have separated themselves
over matters of judgment, such matters as how the Spirit dwells
within Christians or which translation of the Bible a person uses.
(Discuss each.) Sometimes when a modern-day Pharisee converts one
to his way of thinking (concerning matters of opinion), the
proselyte carries the opinion even farther, making matters much
worse. (It is ok to make laws for yourself. Perhaps, you choose to
buy groceries only where alcohol is not sold.)
IV.
Verses
16-22
The Pharisees twisted God’s Word to fit their own desires. Faulty
reasoning produced faulty conclusions. Jesus calls them “fools and
blind.”
Application:
Much effort is needed on our part when we study God’s Word. We must
make diligent effort to come to an understanding, not just look for
what we want to find. Today we see people attempt to find reasons
other than fornication for divorce and remarriage. People fail to
recognize figurative language.
V.
Verses
23-24
The Pharisees stressed certain things to the exclusion of others.
Tithing and purification laws were stressed. They were very careful
to tithe even garden herbs (which was good), but neglected showing
mercy and kindness to those in need. The Pharisees were spiritually
imbalanced. Application: We can do the same thing today.
We stress church attendance to the exclusion of evangelism; stress
heaven, but exclude hell, etc. Outward acts vs. a good heart –
Bible study vs. serving others
VI.
Verses
25-28
The Pharisees were very careful to follow external observances,
those that could be seen by men. But they did not involve their
heart. It was full of sin and blackness. The point of the parable
of the “elder brother” was that outwardly he appeared to be very
righteous, but his true self was manifest when his younger brother
came home. He was very ugly on the inside, self-righteous.
Application:
God’s rule for us has always been: Clean the inside first. God
told His people, “O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that
you may be saved.” (Jeremiah
4:14) Jesus
wants His people to be righteous according to His standard, not
their own. How easy it is for us to go through motions of a
Christian life, but our heart to be in the world.
VII.
Verses
29-30
The Pharisees pretended to be better than they really were. They
pretended to honor men of God in the past. What hypocrisy!
Application: Let’s don’t pretend to be better than our
spiritual ancestors. We hear preachers, men in the Lord’s church,
who claim to be so much more spiritual than preachers of the past.
They claim to have a better understanding of God’s Word than those
of the past. Their self-righteousness goes to extreme.
Conclusion:
We
must be on constant guard to keep from becoming modern-day
Pharisees.
Invitation:
Members of the Lord’s church, are you concerned with how you appear
outwardly more than the condition of your heart! While in this
life, it’s never too late to change. Have you yet made the decision
to become a part of the body of Christ?
Bobby Stafford
April 15, 2012
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