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Are We The Pharisees
“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” – Jesus (Matthew 5:20)
“You’re such a Pharisee.” Or so the rebuke goes. Typically, it’s an end to all further discussion and represents a point in evangelism or debate when the points have all been made, and yet there’s still disagreement between the two parties.
While this is typically just a dismissive way to end a conversation, is it possible, in our earnest efforts to follow the Bible, that we might inadvertently mirror the Pharisees of the Gospels? The question isn’t meant to cast aspersions on the sincere practice of Faith, nor is it meant to be an attack on the defense of sound doctrine or the desire to walk in truth, but instead to answer the question of what was wrong with the Pharisees and why did Jesus so often rebuke them?
“Could we or others be the Pharisees?”
The Pharisees, as depicted in Matthew 23, were religious leaders seated in Moses’ seat. This position wasn’t ordained by God but acknowledged by the people due to their knowledge of the law and tradition. They were seen as interpreters and teachers of Moses’ laws, yet Jesus critiques them for not practicing what they preach. Understanding this background sets the stage for our exploration: Are we, in some ways, adopting a Pharisaic approach in our spiritual lives?
The Law’s Heart: Beyond Pharisaic Legalism
When we dive into the Sermon on the Mount, especially the Beatitudes, we encounter a perspective on righteousness that diverges sharply from that of the Pharisees. Jesus speaks blessings over those who are poor in spirit, mournful, meek, and hungry for righteousness (Matthew 5:3-6). These aren’t mere platitudes; they represent a radical shift in understanding what it means to live under God’s reign. The Beatitudes reveal a heart posture focused on internal transformation, humility, and a genuine pursuit of justice, contrasting with the Pharisees’ tendency toward external compliance and legalistic righteousness.
It’s important to recognize that the Pharisees’ commitment to God’s law wasn’t inherently misguided. Their fervent desire to follow the law was admirable, but they missed its ultimate purpose: to transform the heart and draw it closer to God. Rather than allowing the law to reshape their inner selves, they became fixated on external observance, overlooking the law’s power to inspire genuine spiritual change.
The Trap of External Piety
The disconnect between internal devotion and external piety becomes evident as Jesus critiques the Pharisees in Matthew 15:8, quoting Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” This moment is a poignant callout of their superficial worship and the discrepancy between their public expressions and their private hearts. Jesus further criticizes their legalism in Matthew 23:4, where He reproaches them for imposing burdensome religious obligations on others while neglecting to offer assistance or understanding.
In Matthew 23:14, Jesus highlights their exploitation of the vulnerable, a glaring contradiction to the essence of the law, which is centered on love, mercy, and justice. The Pharisees’ actions demonstrate a profound disconnect from these core values, revealing a spirituality that, while outwardly impeccable, lacked the heart of God’s commandments.
Cleansing from Within: Embracing the Greatest Commandments
In Matthew 23:25-26, Jesus emphasizes the need for inner purity with the metaphor of cleansing the inside of the cup. This teaching is pivotal in understanding true spiritual cleanliness, which isn’t about outward appearances but about the heart’s condition. The Pharisees’ preoccupation with external rituals obscured the need for internal transformation.
This point is powerfully illustrated in the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican found in Luke 18. The Pharisee boasts of his righteousness, while the Publican humbly asks for mercy. This parable starkly contrasts the outward self-righteousness of the Pharisee with the heartfelt repentance of the Publican, reminding us that true discipleship starts from within and radiates outward, embodying the greatest commandments of loving God and our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40).
If we were to follow Matthew 23 to its inevitable conclusion, Jesus ultimately tells them because they see the guilt of their fathers but not their own, they continue in a pattern of corrupt application, even to the point of killing and persecuting the prophets. Is it any wonder that the final beatitude is blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven? In their self-righteousness, the Pharisees had shut themselves off from the kingdom and were persecuting those who were coming into it, all the while oppressing under their tradition their most faithful followers.
To avoid becoming Pharisees, every generation and every believer must renew their commitment to true devotion to God, walk in repentance from the errors of the previous generation, and make sure that those who look to us are not walking in ours. The pharisee wanted to be assured of his earned righteousness. The best that any of us can hope for is to be counted as those who have sought God in Spirit and Truth and followed from both the word and the heart.
Deepening Our Spiritual Journey
As we reflect on these themes, let’s consider a few more questions to deepen our spiritual journey:
1. How do we balance our adherence to religious practices with the need for internal transformation?
2. Are there areas in our lives where we prioritize ritual over relationship, both with God and others?
3. In what ways can we cultivate a heart that reflects the Beatitudes in our daily lives?
4. How can we ensure that our spiritual journey is marked by a continuous process of inner cleansing and alignment with God’s will?
In contemplating these questions, let’s strive to move beyond mere self-reflection to actionable change. Our spiritual path is not just about aligning with Jesus’ teachings intellectually but living them out authentically, embracing a righteousness that starts from the heart and extends to our hands and feet in daily acts of love, mercy, and justice.
