I remember from the time I was a kid growing up in church, learning about a group of guys called the Pharisees. I always pictured them as close-minded old dudes with long white beards, dressed in white robes, standing around constantly heckling Jesus as He spoke to the people. I’ve always known they were strict defenders of the law, but what I didn’t realize until very recently, was how much I had in common with these guys.
As I was reading chapter 3 last night in Phillips Yancey’s book, “The Jesus I Never Knew”, I noticed this small little sidenote at the bottom of one of the pages:
Scholars have debated why the Gospels record so much conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees, when actually he had more in common with them than with [any other religious group in His day].
I’ve studied up on the Pharisees a bit over the last few years. Their name means “set apart” – they were separatists who lived by the law of Moses and defended it religiously. They accepted the fact that the Old Testament was inspired by God. But here’s where the Pharisees went wrong – they gave equal authority to their traditions and vehemently defended them, treating them equal to God’s Word.
In my Choosing To See study, I just finished reading Matthew 3 & Luke 3 where the Pharisees are first mentioned by John the Baptist. I love John, he doesn’t mix words – he was a passionate man who told it how it was. I respect that.
When John realized that a lot of Pharisees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It’s your life that must change, not your skin!
Those are harsh words – and that was before Jesus had even spoken a word about them. I’ve always found it interesting that the one group Jesus harped on more than any other was the Pharisees – the group he had the most in common with. How much does that say about how much God hates religious frauds? Quite a bit, actually.
It wasn’t until I slowed down and read the words of Jesus to the Pharisees throughout the New Testament, that I began to see myself as a religious fraud. I too, had a lot in common with them – because I was one of them. I had my list of rules and traditions and treated them equal to God’s Word. And just like the Pharisees, I vehemently defended them. I judged people’s outward appearance, never looking at their heart. Anyone who believed differently, lived differently, or had different standards than me was outside of my “circle of trust”, an outcast and certainly not right with God. I was a Pharisee, a legalist.
I thank God continually for reaching in and pulling me out of that mindset and I thank my amazing family and friends, who were not afraid to speak truth into my life. And while I’d love to say that I’m completely free of my Pharisaical ways, it’s something I know I’ll struggle with for the rest of my life. I pray that God will help me see people as He sees them in I Samuel 16:7:
For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
I know this post may seem like a diversion from the rest of the Choosing To See posts so far, but every time I read about Jesus’ encounters with the Pharisees, I walk away convicted because of the Pharisee in me. It’s a painful thing to admit, but if I’m choosing to see Jesus with clear eyes, I need to be willing to see myself in that same light.
Is there a Pharisee in you? Do you ever find yourself focusing on one’s outward appearance instead of their heart?
Great post!
Thanks for reading Brandon.
Is there a Pharisee in me? Sadly, sometimes yes. My selfishness at times creeps in and makes me think of “me” before anyone else. Enjoyed reading your thoughts, Nathan.
Thanks for the comment Dustin.
What is both wonderful and terrifying about the Pharasees is how close they were to the kingdom of God. In the Gospels there is a part where a teacher of the law is asking Jesus about the law (later we find out it is to justify himself). Anyway, in the course of their dialogue Jesus tells the guy he is so very close to the kingdom!
Throughout the gospel, it isn’t until the end of Jesus’ life that he really starts calling out the Pharisees and mocking them. He does so with other religious groups calling them stupid and telling them they don’t know the scriptures, but it is not until Jesus nears the cross that he starts really attacking the Pharisees for the way the mishandled God’s word.
What sticks out mostly to me is that they could be so very close to the Kingdom of God and yet still a million miles away.
I don’t think setting rules (legalism) is in itself bad. Jesus is pretty clear in his sermons of what a person cannot do. And yet, when we stand on our ability to follow the rules as a justification and place our rules above the rules of scripture; then we have become a pharisee.
Wow, that was long. Hope it all made sense! lol
Thanks Alex! Nope, nothing wrong with setting rules at all. And the kind of “legalism” I’m referring to is more about setting rules from principals you see (for yourself) in the Bible and then enforcing those rules on others and judging them based on those man-made rules. It’s what the Pharisees did in adding to God’s word and it’s what I did too, for so many years. It’s not even placing those rules above Scripture as much as deeming them equal to Scripture… when those rules are really nothing more than personal conviction in most cases.
Thanks for what your wrote though, made perfect sense
“It’s not even placing those rules above Scripture as much as deeming them equal to Scripture”
That’s good
And to answer your question, yes there is a big pharisee in me. I want so badly to control God, and so I have made rules I can follow so I feel better about myself. God has been beating this idea out of me.
Even Jesus, being the very form of God id not consider equality with God something to be grasped. What makes me think I can?
I know exactly what you mean and I’m right there with you bro!
I definitely have seen the Pharisee in myself at times. I think it’s our nature to try to put rules on what it means to follow God, as it’s easier to quantify whether or not we are “right” with God. Great thoughts Nathan!
Thanks Jason, you summarized it nicely!
Yup! Enough said.
You know what you did there? You made us look into our hearts. Yikes!
I see a pharisee in me. It’s the one that tries to glory in his good deeds, knowledge, comparing myself to others. It’s deadly man.
The good thing: If you are aware it exists, you are not too far from being changed. The worst pharisee is the one that doesn’t know he is one. Can I get a witness?
LOL, can I get a witness… you crack me up dude. Yep, you’re right, the worst kind of Pharisee is the one that doesn’t know they are one. They’re usually the most vocal about it too. Unfortunately, I know too many that fit that category. :
I really enjoyed reading a bunch of your posts. This one really makes one look deep inside. It makes you realize you have to keep weeding… Like the 4 fields in Mt 13. We have to keep weeding, continually (getting rid of the thorns and rocks in our field). Unfortunately too many people think that once they accept and believe in Jesus all the weeding is taken care of, they sit back and relax thinking their work is done.
Thank you for reminding me (and others by the looks of it) how important it is to continually keep ourselves in check, and to put God first – above all else!
Thanks so much for stopping by and for the kind words. Love your reference to Matthew 13 – that the weeding process is never over for those whose desire is to become more like Christ.
I’m reading The Jesus Creed right now and I’m reminded that living the letter of the law is not as important as loving others. The Good Samaritan shows this. The priest and Levite lived the letter of the law by not becoming unclean when they touched a corpse, but the Samaritan put aside the law to do what was right, loving the beaten, bruised, needy man. By living the letter of the law, we are being Pharisees. The law we need to follow is to love God and love others, period!
I love that example of the Samaritan Sandy, it’s been awhile since I’ve read that – thanks for that reminder!
Nathan,
I’ll throw this out there:
When you remove the legalism and the prideful hearts form The Pharisees, you will see that Jesus was more like them than many will mention. The Pharisees and The Sadducees were the two parties that made up The Sanhedrin. Kinda like the Dems and the Repubs make up Congress. Kinda.
The Pharisees were not bad in and of themselves as being Pharisees. They were religious leaders, committed to The Law, (which was everything to a Jew back then, before Jesus showed up), and were pillars in their communities. We have come to despise them and hate them simply because they were corrupted by their own sense of self-importance and arrogance. But The Pharisees, the particular entity itself, was not bad. May I mention Nicodemus, anyone?
I can see Jesus being part of The Pharisees more than being a part of The Sadducees. Now, again, I am not saying Jesus was in any way a legalist like The Pharisees! But if you were to look at what Jesus spoke about, and His incredible grasp of The Law, you would see that Jesus was actually a brilliant Pharisee. But, like I mentioned, He was nothing like the examples we have seen more often than not, in The Scriptures.
Just a passing thought, Nathan.
Yes, we all have had a pharisaical heart at one time. Shame, that.
But look at us now.
Oh yeah.
Those are all excellent points man and go right along with what I’ve studied as well. I guess I tend to identify with the Pharisees reactions to things and their inability to look beyond the law and their self-induced laws. And I think that may be why Jesus spent so much time with them, because they were so close to the truth, but yet so far (i.e. Nicodemus). And obviously he knew that would be something the church would struggle with too.
>>And I think that may be why Jesus spent so much time with them, because they were so close to the truth, but yet so far (i.e. Nicodemus).
Dude. great line. How many people do you know right now that fit that to a tee? Uh huh. Me, too.
Sometimes we are the only Bibles some people will read, indeed.
Nathan, man, I know that book, and it had a similar effect on me (The Jesus I Never Knew). And even after I became what I think of as “more open-minded”, I am amazed at how I will still judge someone based on appearances. How closed-minded is that? Pretty embarrassed. Thankfully Jesus loves me as I am and continues to work with me to make me less that way! Have a great day, my friend.
You’re right, this is just one of those areas where we have to continue to let God change us, to let us see people as He sees them. Thanks for stopping by Bryan and for your comment!
Always good to remember that a list of rules are helpful (if I didn’t have rules in my house, I be in trouble!) but they do not define us or dictate our worth. Neither is our ability to keep (or not keep) that list…no, the Father defines our value through the blood of Christ. I pray that my heart repents from Pharisee tenancies and then follows the Lord more passionately.
Good word bro’
Jay, thanks for stopping by. You are right, so thankful God doesn’t define our worth by a set of rule — or from anything we do actually — only on what His Son did for us on the cross. Thank you for that reminder today.
I’m currently doing a study on the life of Jesus, except this one is studying Him through the people He relates to…including the Pharisees
This so speaks to me this week. The pharisee in me reveals itself as a list of religious standards that I set for myself. I try to compete with an unachievable standard of Godliness–determined by me and no one else.
Like the Pharisees, my intentions are good, but my heart, is at times, misplaced.
That sounds like an awesome study Nicole – are you blogging about what you’re learning as well? Would love to read it if so!
Love what you said, “I try to compete with an unachievable standard of Godliness–determined by me and no one else.” – that’s me as well!
Thanks Nicole!
Wow. The Pharisee in me. Yeah, he raises his ugly head way too often. More than I’d like to admit. But I just did. And a lot of the times he comes out with the people I love the most, my wife, my kids.
I have to admit, I struggle with this one. I was raised in a church that looked graceful and joyous, but dealt with some substantial legalism under the surface, especially with some of my parents greatest friends. So I was exposed to this “norm” very early.
Now I find myself looking down the same pathways that I witnessed as a kid. I continually turn myself away, but it’s so ingrained within me that it keeps cropping back up.
I have to place restraints and reminders on my life to keep my focus away from doing and more on being. I’ve found a few things that definitely help with that, conferences, resources, etc.
Thanks for a great post that made me once again examine myself really closely.
I find that the tension is in what we do after we find faith in Jesus. From the moment of discovering God’s grace we move from being mere sinners to being God’s people. With this change comes a responsibility to reflect God to the rest of the world. We get about trying to do this (often in our own strength) by our actions. We then become pharisaical, thinking that everyone is less than us because we live a certain way! It’s a difficult tension because being a Christ follower IS about our actions and it IS about our conduct….. but equally so, it’s all about grace, all about Jesus, and in some sense has nothing to do with us at all!
Nathan, first off, I really like the blog and glad I stumbled upon it. I was surprised when I started studying the pharisees at seminary how religiously noble they seemed compared to my initial perceptions of them. I used to view them as the big bad wolves of the Bible, but as I learned about them more, I couldn’t help but relate to them.
It doesn’t matter how much older I seem to get in my faith, my tendency towards being a pharisee never seems to go away. Thanks for the honesty and your not alone. I wrote a post a few weeks ago telling the parable of the Good Samaritan from the perspective of the pharisee, which you can read here if you’re interested.
Thanks for the post!
Hey Nathan. Thanks for the comments on my blog. Sorry to hear about the break, but maybe it was a good thing? Well good to know your back! Hey, I changed my Twitter. I added you to it, but its http://www.twitter.com/taciturnitylife. Hope all is well. Thanks again.