Be Like Jesus, Not the Pharisees
Our church is going verse-by-verse through the Gospel of Matthew and I’ve recently crossed through 60 sermons and chapter 9 of this glorious New Testament book. Of all the prevalent themes within it (and there are some good ones!), the confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees is certainly high on the list. To put it bluntly: Jesus couldn’t stand religious hypocrites.
The primary reason for the Lord’s disdain for these religious types was not His lack of love, lack of grace, or unrighteous anger, but rather, their total disregard for His mission, for mercy, and for truth.
The Pharisees preferred self-righteous rules over a sincere relationship with Jesus. They were cliquey, snobby, and pretentious about who they fellowshipped with. They looked down on everyone else, but always thought highly of themselves. The Pharisees would make their self- absorbed convictions your commands. Their issue has to be your issue. Their rules must be your rules, or else…
Before Jesus paid the price with His life for displeasing these self-righteous pride-mongers, He paid the price His reputation because they slandered Him all over town. Their prideful and misguided view of Jesus went so far as to say He was a “drunk and a glutton” (Matthew 11:18-19) because He ate with sinners. Like the telephone game, the gossip and slander about Jesus grew and grew until it looked nothing like what He was doing.
We Still Have Pharisees Today
Even though they are not actual Pharisees in the modern New Testament church as in Bible times, the attitudes and actions of the Pharisees are alive and well. They would eventually be proven wrong in Jesus’ day, and they will eventually be proven wrong in ours, but along the way, they can do insurmountable damage to the bride of Christ.
One of the best things we can do to protect our churches and our own hearts from stumbling into pharisaical waters is to study the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees while humbly asking: “Which one do I look like the most?”
To aid in your healthy heart assessment, here is a comparison chart I compiled for a recent sermon. It covers the conflict throughout the Gospel of Matthew and I used specific instances across all 28 chapters to determine their characteristics. You may find it beneficial (and convicting!) for your own reflection and discernment.
The Pharisees vs. Jesus Christ
In The Gospel of Matthew
“Christ Came for Sinners: Part 1” (Matthew 9:9-13) | Costi Hinn
| The Parisees | Jesus Christ |
|---|---|
| Demand grace yet show none | Freely gives grace to the undeserving |
| Lack love and cannot comprehend it | Loves deeply, sacrificially, unconditionally |
| Cannot forgive, even the penitent | Freely forgives the worst of sinners |
| Harbor bitterness and jealousy | Offers healing for the brokenhearted |
| Accuse falsely to protect reputation | Speaks truth in love to rescue the lost |
| Never truly repent | Calls all to repentance and leads by example |
| Refuse to serve; crave honor | Washes feet, touches lepers, feeds crowds |
| Look down on the needy, the poor, the outcast | Draws near to them, lifts them up |
| Cannot forgive, even the penitent | Freely forgives the worst of sinners |
| Focus on self, status, and outward show | Focuses on the Father’s will and others’ good |
| Choose mockery and scorn over mercy | Shows compassion and weeps over sinners |
| Love rules more than relationship | Loves people and fulfills the Law by love |
| Stick closer to their clique than to God | Welcomes the sinner, outcast, and enemy |
| Run to judge; run from truth that exposes them | Declares truth that sets free, even when rejected |
| Seek to destroy the Church and the Savior who exposes them | Builds His Church, lays down His life for it |
| Find identity in performance and pride | Offers identity in grace and adoption |
| Blind to their own sin | Bears the sin of others on the cross |
| Celebrate the condemnation of others | Celebrates the redemption of others |
One look at that comparison is enough to cause the sincere lover of Jesus to pray: “Lord, forgive me for acting like the Pharisees. Purge of me of such self-righteous pride. Help me to see my sin for what it is, and to see your grace as an undeserved gift, so that I can love you and love others the way you have called me to.”
Be like Jesus. Not the Pharisees.
For further study, watch the most recent sermon from Shepherd’s House Bible Church!
