Posts Tagged ‘ pharisees ’

Good advice or bad advice?

March 25, 2011
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I can’t claim this as my own, but the 21st Century Christian e-newsletter this week has something you need to read. What would it have looked like if the Pharisees had offered Jesus some “friendly advice” to make things go more smoothly for him? They could have offered him these five tips:

1. Back off on the Sabbath healings. Can’t you just do your good work on the other six days? It’d cause a whole lot less trouble. Don’t rock the boat.

2. Clean up your image. It’s hard to take you seriously if you’re going to go healing on the wrong day of the week, spitting and making mud, sticking your fingers in peoples’ ears, and playing in the sand! Don’t even get us started on that water-to-wine stuff!

3. Think about who you hang out with. Do you really want to be known as the friend of tax collectors, political wackos, prostitutes, lepers, and uneducated rednecks? What would your mother think?

4. Let go of some of your “out-there” teaching methods. You’re doing a lot of this story-telling stuff. Why don’t you just make your point and quote the verse? And why do you keep answer questions with questions? Can’t you just speak plainly?

5. Watch your tongue! It’s just not polite to go around calling people “broods of vipers” and “sons of hell.” Don’t be such a downer! Whenever we hang out, you keep going on and on with “Woe” this and “woe” that. That’s no way to win friends and influence people!

It’s not hard for me to imagine the Pharisees giving that advice. Aren’t you glad that Jesus wouldn’t have taken it? It is remarkable to consider the way that he spoke the truth in love. He was kind and direct. He was compassionate, but he was intolerant of wickedness in God’s name. He called things like they were—regardless of who liked it and who didn’t. Simply put, Jesus taught perfectly.

While you and I will never be the teacher that Jesus was, we can learn from him. Let’s imitate his compassion and his courage in our interactions.

Don’t Be a Pharisee

February 6, 2009
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The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, For they do not practice what they preach. Matthew 23:2, 3

If we are acquainted with the teaching of Jesus we know that he had problems with the Pharisees of his day. Matthew 23 is a good example.

Keep in mind that Phariseeism is a defense mechanism people use to avoid becoming aware of their own faults, failings and depravity. They are afraid to look inside for the things they need to change. It is far easier to look at the faults of others rather than confront the person we see in the mirror.

The sin of the Pharisees was maintaining that they were the only true believers. “We can’t have heaven filled.” They maintain the status quo and that nothing needs changing. “Sinners” are outside the fellowship of God and He doesn’t even hear their prayers. We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly man who does his will. (John 9:31)

We still have the problem in the 21st century. There are many people who know that they are the only ones who are going to make it to heaven. They have their list of requirements and exclude or look down on those who fail to match these requirements. There are political Pharisees, economical Pharisees, educational Pharisees and religious Pharisees.

Maybe we could all learn a lesson from Jesus and look to ourselves. You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:5)

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