The Ballestero Blog

Be Fervent, But Don’t Be A Pharisee

“The Pharisees were the most numerous and influential of the religious sects of Jesus’ day. The were strict legalists. They stood for the rigid observance of the letter and forms of the Law, and also for the Traditions.

 There were some good men among them, no doubt, but for the most part they were known for their covetousness, self-righteousness and hypocrisy.” –Bible-History.com

The Pharisee

“There was probably no town or village inhabited by Jews which had not its Pharisees, although they would, of course, gather in preference about Jerusalem with its Temple, and what, perhaps would have been even dearer to the heart of a genuine Pharisee–its four hundred and eighty synagogues, its Sanhedrims (great and small), and its schools of study. There could be no difficulty in recognising such an one. Walking behind him, the chances were, he would soon halt to say his prescribed prayers. If the fixed time for them had come, he would stop short in the middle of the road, perhaps say one section of them, move on, again say another part, and so on, till, whatever else might be doubted, there could be no question of the conspicuousness of his devotions in market-place or corners of streets. There he would stand, as taught by the traditional law, would draw his feet well together, compose his body and clothes, and bend so low “that every vertebra in his back would stand out separate,” or, at least, till “the skin over his heart would fall into folds” (Ber. 28 b). The workman would drop his tools, the burden-bearer his load; if a man had already one foot in the stirrup, he would withdraw it. The hour had come, and nothing could be suffered to interrupt or disturb him. The very salutation of a king, it was said, must remain unreturned; nay, the twisting of a serpent around one’s heel must remain unheeded.” – Alfred Edersheim

The Lord Is Not Impressed With The Pharisee’s Self Righteous Attitude

Pharisee And Publican Praying

Pharisees As Portrayed By Matthew’s Gospel

Pharisees Are Called Snakes By John The Baptist

Matthew 3:7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Pharisee Righteousness Is Insufficient

Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Pharisees Are Murderous

Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Pharisees Are Placed In The “Evil And Adulterous Generation” Category

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee.

Matthew 12:39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas:

Pharisees Are Offended Easily

Matthew 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

Pharisees Are Not Sanctioned By God

Matthew 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

Pharisees Are Off Limits To Believers

Matthew 16:6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

Pharisees Love To Argue

Matthew 19:3 The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?

Pharisees Are Politically Motivated And Violent

Matthew 21:45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.

Matthew 21:46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Pharisees Love To Find Fault And Twist Your Words

Matthew 22:15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

Pharisees Put Themselves On The Same Level With Moses

Matthew 23:2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

Pharisees Don’t Live What They Preach

Matthew 23:3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

Pharisees Make Living For God Hard And Grievous

Matthew 23:4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

 

Pharisees Have Much Pride

Matthew 23:5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

Pharisees Love To Be Honored

Matthew 23:6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Pharisees Seek Recognition Of Men

Matthew 23:7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

Matthew 23:8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

Matthew 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Matthew 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Matthew 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

The Seven WOES Of The Pharisees In Matthew 23

Pharisees Are Hypocrites. They Talk About God, But Do Not Love God And Keep Others From Being Saved

Matthew 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.

Pharisees Are They Are Heartless And Money Hungry, While Acting Spiritual. They Will Be Punished In The Judgment

Matthew 23:14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Pharisees Destroy Their Own Converts

Matthew 23:15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

Pharisees Taught The Law But Didn’t Practice The Law

Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Pharisees Major On Minors, And Are Spiritually Blind

Matthew 23:24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.

Pharisees Wear A Mask Of Holiness But Are Full Of Filthiness

Matthew 23:25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Matthew 23:26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

Matthew 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Matthew 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Pharisees Give False Honor And Come From A Long Line of Preacher Killers

Matthew 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Matthew 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Matthew 23:31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

Pharisees As Portrayed In Acts

Pharisees… Can They Be Saved? Absolutely, But It Might Take A Miracle!

Acts 9:1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,

Acts 9:2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Acts 9:3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:

Acts 9:4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?

Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

Acts 9:6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

 

(Paul Seems To Be The Only Recorded Converted Pharisee.)

Be Fervent But Please Don’t Be A Pharisee.

Pharisees Are Not Helping God’s Work As Much As They Think They Are.