What Were Some Major Differences?
Intro. There is no doubt but that Jesus was often in conflict with the Jewish sect known as the Pharisees. A very casual reading of the New Testament makes this very obvious. In this lesson we want to examine WHY there was conflict. When we study the evidence of the Bible, we find a different picture than is often expressed by our religious friends in and out of the church. Occasionally, we run into someone who thinks that strict obedience to the Bible is what Pharisaism was then and is now (only in a “Christian” form). Is this so? Or, does the very term “Pharisee” serve a purpose for lawless religious people to frighten people away from trying to obey all of the will of God lest we be considered “Pharisaical”?
What are proper analogies between some professed “Christians” today, and the Pharisees that Jesus confronted?
Common Misconceptions Today
A. A Strictness About Biblical Authority is Modern Pharisaism
1. When we examine the evidence of the Bible, we find that the Pharisees were not nearly as strict about God’s authority expressed in the Law as they were strict in regard to their favorite human traditions.
2. It is not a part of their vocabulary to talk about “the will of God” though this was the central theme of Jesus’ life and talk. Mk.3:35; Jno.5:30; 6:39
3. Early Christians considered that the Pharisees were NOT submissive to the authority or will of God – Lk.7:30
4. When all evidence is fairly considered, we conclude that the modern “Pharisees” are those who are religious and respectful toward their own human traditions above the will of God, and who do not often appeal to the will of God as their authority. Mark 7:1-13
B. Strict Moral Codes of Ethics is a Sign of Modern Pharisaism
1. When we examine the evidence of the Bible, we find that the Pharisees were very loose in their personal moral code of ethics.
2. Jesus said that our righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees. Mat.5:19-20
3. The contrasts between Jesus’ standards and those of the Pharisees are seen in the Sermon on the mount – Matt.5-7
a. Jesus’ shows that they were often very hateful, lustful, and dishonest in their dealings with others. Matt.5:21ff
b. Jesus shows that they were hypocrites (showing one side in play-acting form) but altogether different inside where God sees their true character. – Matt.6-7
c. They ignored the Law on key moral issues like coveting a neighbor’s wife, divorce, loving your neighbor, and bearing false witness or keeping oaths.
d. They brought a woman guilty of adultery before Jesus, but could not throw a stone because they were often guilty of the same thing. Jno.8:3f; Matt.23:25-33
4. It seems from all the evidence that when people appear religious, but hold to loose moral standards, that they are playing the role of the Pharisees.
5. We cannot grant that strict moral standards were ever criticized by Jesus, nor upheld by the Pharisees. Loose morals, while claiming to love and respect God, is a sign of modern day Pharisaism.
C. Demanding Book, Chapter, and Verse Preaching is Pharisaism
1. It would be impossible to find Jesus rebuking people who insist that the Bible be preached, and nothing but the Bible.
2. Jesus rebuked their blindness in reading the scriptures, not the reading of the scriptures themselves. In them they should have been able to see types, shadows, and prophecies of Jesus. Jesus insisted that they search the scriptures with greater openness and honesty. John 5
3. We cannot grant that Book, Chapter, and Verse preaching posed or poses any problem. It solves a lot of problems. It gives a common measure of truth, and thus a valid means of creating and maintaining the unity Jesus prayed for. John 17
4. Jesus rebuked “not knowing the scriptures”, but not scriptural teaching.
5. Jesus rebuked setting aside the commandments of God in preference to human traditions, but not book, chapter, and verse preaching.
D. Challenging Human Traditions is Pharisaism
1. It was not the Pharisees that challenged traditions. It was Jesus.
2. It was the lack of challenging human traditions that made the Pharisees what they were. It is here, on the matter of human traditions, that got Jesus to raise His protests against them. Matt.15:1-14
3. The Pharisees were the ones who did not want their traditions to be challenged. Thus, the modern Pharisees would be the same way.
Jesus Never Rebuked The Pharisees Because….
A. They were strict in regard to GOD’s LAW
1. They were very strict about their traditions, but very loose regarding God’s commandments.
2. He rebuked their lack of commitment to the Law of God.
B. They wanted scriptural authority for all they did together in temple and synagogue
1. Jesus cleaned out the temple because they allowed too much that God never authorized. Jno.2
2. They did not have authority to make God’s house a house of merchandise.
3. The modern Pharisees are making church (God’s spiritual house) a house of fun, entertainment, and social programs.
C. They were too strict in regard to standards of righteous behavior
1. The evidence shows that they were very loose regarding the standards of righteousness expressed in the Law. Matt.5:19-20
2. They were not very righteous at all.
3. Jesus expressed higher and therefore stricter standards of righteous behavior. The Sermon on the Mount expresses such contrasts between the standards of the scribes and Pharisees and those standards Jesus expected of those who would see and enter His kingdom. Matt.5-7
D. They were against human traditions that set aside the commandments of the Lord
1. They were for traditions of their fathers even when they set aside the commandments of the Lord.
2. Modern Pharisees will employ things that set aside the commandments of the Lord. Sprinkling for baptism, infant baptism, divisive names and creeds that prevent the unity Jesus prayed for. These are just a few examples.
Jesus vs. Pharisees
A. Who thought about the scriptures the most?
1. Who appealed to the scriptures the most? Jesus? Or the Pharisees? We find Jesus speaking of the scriptures in one way or another in all of His personal temptations, and in His dealings with others. “What saith the scriptures” was constantly on His tongue.
2. The Pharisees occasionally brought up the scriptures when it seemed in their best personal interest to do so.
B. Who appealed to the will of God the most?
1. The Father’s will was constantly on Jesus’ mind, tongue, and actions.
2. The traditions of the elders was most commonly on the lips of the Pharisees.
C. Who was stricter about morals or standards of righteousness?
1. Jesus was by far the stricter in regard to morals.
2. The Pharisees would ignore or bend the rules to suit themselves.
3. There are modern Pharisees in and outside of churches of Christ today. They are the ones who seek their own will above the scriptures. Their standards are usually less than the scriptures would demand.
D. Who was concerned about human traditions setting aside God’s Law?
1. Jesus was very concerned about this issue.
2. The Pharisees are not known at all for such concerns.
3. Thus, the modern Pharisee would be people in or outside of churches of Christ who have little or no concern about whether a matter traditionally practiced sets aside the commandments of God.
In conclusion, I would say:
You Might Be A Pharisee, If…
•You are more concerned about your traditions than you are the word of God. This is not limited to old traditions. Some are intent on creating new traditions of men in a misguided effort to get away from old, “traditional” ways of doing things.
•You are more concerned about how you appear to men than you are about what God thinks of you (Matt.6-7)
•You are more critical of others than you are of your self. Matt.7:1-7
1. The Pharisee had no sense of his own sinfulness – Luke 18:9-14
2. Most members of the church that I hang around seem to have a very real sense of unworthiness and a sense of failings and sinfulness. Conscientious Christians seem more like the publican.
3. There are many issues that we need to judge and address, but in a fair manner, and with a care of souls that cautions us to be gentle and wise.
4. However, the Pharisees felt that Jesus was too critical of them. They were offended by Him, and they could not handle the truth. Modern Pharisees are offended at the truth expressed by the real Jesus of scripture.
5. We need to be more critical of ourselves than others. This practice gives us a sense of unworthiness and huge appreciation for the grace and mercy of God, and it causes us to be very compassionate and merciful toward others.
6. It helps us to develop skills in being wise as serpents and harmless as doves as we seek to gently lead souls out of error and into truth, knowing that others have had a difficult time getting us to see truths we were not able to see for a while due to blindness and pride.
•You emphasize only a few choice details but neglect weightier matters like love, justice, and faith – Matt. 23:23
1. The Pharisees were very selective on what they would take issue with. Tithing down to minute details was a hobby-horse with them, while mercy, justice, and faith were severely neglected.
2. I knew a man that was very quick to blast other members on certain select issues, but he would not pay his bills, and was very hateful toward his wife. This is Pharisaical. We need to major in majors and minor in minors. We need to prioritize the issues that God has prioritized without leaving the other undone.
3. It seems that putting the kingdom FIRST along with HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, not our own select issues, is what we should major in. To put God’s kingdom and righteousness on a lower shelf of importance and priority will surely make us more like the Pharisees and less like Jesus.
Conclusion:
There are many things we want to study about Jesus and the Pharisees. We want to make sure we are striving to be more like Jesus and less like the Pharisees. However, in this lesson we hope to accomplish getting a clearer and more accurate understanding. What were the real issues? Was Jesus disturbed by their strictness or their blindness and looseness regarding God’s law? We hope we have made that particular issue clearer.
Terry W. Benton
terrywbenton@bellsouth.net
