Pharisaism Exposed

Background of Pharisees and Sadducees

Keep this Character in Mind of (the two ruling classes of the Jewish culture of the time)

Two schools of thought concerning Jewish ideology Repre

Pharisees (167BC-73AD) ~6,000

“Separated Ones”

Preservation of the Jewish Identity through the Mosaic Law

Emphasized the importance of the Temple and rites and services of the Temple

High influence over the people

Movement

Begins as a disagreement with the Sadducees, and a need to preserve the whole of the Jewish custom

Gains as an internal dialogue of what’s right and wrong (Theological) - without the Temple, and in exile

Transforms into a conflict of Christianity

Although - certain provisions in the Oral Tradition for saving a life, (even Martyrdom for Idolatry, Murder, and Adultery)

A hallmark of Pharisaism - All Laws, religious duties, are equal importance - for the benefit of a reward from God

Sadducees (essentially Deists - No Hope)

Favored “Hellenization” - adaptation of Greek culture and customs

Emphasized and Recognized only the Written Torah

Rejecting the Prophets, writings and doctrines of the oral traditions

Rejected the resurrection of the Dead, Spirits, and Angels

Rejection of fate, and pre-ordained future of God’s Sovereignty

Belief in total “free-will” Man’s choice to choose Good and Evil

Represented the High Priestly Class (maintaining the Temple)

Jesus: To Expose the Pharisees - Turns to the Crowd

Read Text

Turns to the Crowd

Implications for turning to the Crowd / His Disciples?

Who is the Message for?

Pharisees are not going to be there forever

Jesus is using the Pharisees as an example of hypocrisy

God is usually revealed this way:

Shadows and Types

OT / OC Blessing - Uses the history of man as an example of Blessing and Cursing

Will use the judgment of the Jews as an example of the Judgment of the Church

The Crowd - The Audience, the readers of Matthew -> ultimately the Church

Who does Christ want you to Identify with?

What is the Illustration?

He says “do as they say, not as they do.” - Message is for the Crowd, not the Pharisees, merely

Consider “David and Goliath”

Who are we supposed to Identify with, applicably?

What is the Church to glean from this Story

Etched into history as a lesson from God

Armies of Israel and there Commander Saul

Cowering to the Challenge of The Giant of Gath

David (faithfulness)

1 Samuel 17:45 “Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.”

Both, in differing seasons of life

In the Case of Saul, the Israelites and Goliath: the Exalted are humbled for God’s purpose

In the Case of the Pharisees - they have placed themselves in exaltation - they will be humbled

Exalted Themselves

Matthew 23:2 “saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses;”

Seat of Moses

As Moses is leading the Hebrews to the Promised Land

They start to bring their issues to him, in order to be judged

Man took issue with neighbor - They would bring it to Moses for council (Judge)

Once it became overwhelming -> He delegated the minor judgment to able men and leaders

B/C they were entrusted with the Law of God

Jesus says - They have the authority over you in the matters of the Law

and they are zealous for the law (and the law is good)

So, in humility, do as they say

but their works are far from the heart and intent of the law

Jesus says - Their judgment is binding - but their deeds are wicked

In essence, they knew the law - and were, by man’s standard, blameless

But would use the law, and perception of godliness to seek self-exaltation

Tie Up Burdens - expectation of high righteousness

Given the blessing to participate in the righteousness of God - Pharisees have made it burdensome

-Turning a love for God - into a show of obedience

but the example - would not even lift a finger to participate

James 2:14–18 “What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,” and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may well say, “You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.””

Offering of Jesus:

Matthew 11:28–30 ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.””

Deeds to be Noticed by Men

Dt 6:4-13

Phylacteries - Arm and Head

Tassels - on the edge of Garment

To impress upon people how obedient they were

Seeking: Praise of men - but also

Place of Honor, Chief Seats, and respectable Greetings

EXALTATION AMONG MEN - WILL BE HUMBLED

Titles of Exaltation

Don’t be called:

Rabbi - There is One who is your Teacher - and we are all brothers

Ephesians 1:3–6 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”

Father - There is only One - He who is in Heaven

Leader - Christ is our Leader

1 Corinthians 1:11–13 “For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?”

Greatest Among You Shall be Your Servant

Matthew 23:11–12 ““But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.”

Who is the Greatest in the Kingdom?

Him who has the humility of a Child...

Who showed the perfect humiliation? (unlike your leaders, the Pharisees)

Philippians 2:5–11 “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Action

Exalted will be Humbled

-The Humbled will be Exalted

Notice: times when God will humble you

Practice: Humility is an integral part of running the race

Race of obedience

Race toward God

Race toward Holiness

Race toward righteousness

Ways to practice Humility:

Service - Serve One Another

Be there for Someone

Ask Someone How you can be there, help them

Teach Someone something / Learn Something from Someone

Command: Go and Wash someone’s feet

Use Your Spiritual Gifts for the Edification of the Church

Prayer

Pray for Wellbeing

Pray for Salvation

Gospel

Kill anxiety so that your neighbor may be exalted in eternity

Invite Someone to Church

Exaltation and Humility

Will Practice in this life

Proverbs 22:4 “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches, honor and life.”

James 4:10 “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”

Will Have Eternal Consequence

Revelation 18