THE PHARISEE IN ME 

MATTHEW 23:1-7, 13-16, 23-29

          The title of this morning’s message is “The Pharisee in Me”.  Repeat it after me, “The Pharisee in Me”.  Many Christians know very little about the Pharisees and thus some probably will find the message title a bit repulsive. 

                 Since the Pharisees are not given any role in the Law Covenant or even mentioned in the Old Testament, some may wonder where they came from and why they had so much authority among the people.

          During the Babylonian and Assyrian captivities of Judah and Israel the scroll containing the Law was lost.  When the Children of Israel were allowed to return to rebuild Jerusalem under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, you will find recorded in Nehemiah chapters 8 and 9 that Ezra after finding the scroll read the Law in the ears of the people.  The Children of Israel then dedicated themselves to keeping of the Law.  From that day the study of the Law became the greatest of all professions and was committed to the scribes.  The scribes took it upon themselves to break up the great principles of the Law into thousands upon thousands of little rules and regulations.  Where the Law required that a man not work on the Sabbath Day, the scribes then were responsible for defining what would be considered work.  They were so meticulous in there definition that things like carrying enough ink to write two letters of the alphabet was considered work.  Jesus was often rebuked for healing on the Sabbath Day.  The scribes said that healing was allowed when there was danger of life; but even then steps could be taken only to keep the patient from getting worse.  No steps could be taken to make him get any better.  You could put a bandage on the wound but could add no ointment.  The scribes worked out all the fine details of the rules and regulations. 

The Pharisees on the other hand were a group of men who were committed to separating themselves from all ordinary activities of life so that they might keep all rules and regulations.  The name Pharisee itself means “The Separated Ones”.  Now with that understanding maybe you can began to see just a little of why the title of this message can be “The Pharisee in Me”.  What does 2 Cor. 6:17-18 tell us?  “ Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”   We who are Christians are called to be separated unto God.  This is what the Pharisees set out to do.  They were the men who dedicated their whole life to the careful and meticulous observance of every rule and regulation issued by the scribes.   The problem is that they took their focus off of God and as always when that happens man looses sight of what is most important.            Here in the passage of scriptures we find Jesus rebuking the Scribes and Pharisees.  This group that started with such a noble purpose now stands receiving the pronunciation of 8 woes upon their lives.

          Jewish writings distinguishes and names 7 different kinds of Pharisee.

1.     The shoulder Pharisee

He was meticulous in his observance of the Law; but he wore his good deeds upon his shoulders.  He was out for a reputation for purity and goodness.  He obeyed the Law but he did so in order to be seen of men.  Jesus rebukes this Pharisee in Matt. 23:5-7.  Phylacteries are leather boxes worn by the Jews in which they carried scriptures.  These Pharisees in order to draw attention to themselves wore larges, oversized boxes.  Also the Children of Israel were commanded to put fringes or tassels on the borders of their garments to remind them of the commandments.  Again to draw attention to themselves, these Pharisees made their tassels extremely large. These Pharisees had to have the front seat in the synagogue and the prominent seats at any feast.  This Pharisee is like the Christian whose main purpose in all that he does for God is to be seen.  They want recognition for everything that they do and every activity that they are involved in is about them.  They make sure that everyone knows about their contribution to the success of any program or ministry effort.  They are always trying to catch the pastor’s eye so the he will recognize what a good church member they are.  Their service to the church has little to do with serving God because it is self serving.  Thus this Pharisee is likened to the Christian who has forgotten that I Cor. 10:31 says “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” This Pharisee seeks not to glorify God, but rather to glorify himself.  Ask yourself is this the Pharisee in me? 

2.     The Wait-a-little Pharisee

This is the Pharisee that could always produce a valid excuse for putting off a good deed.  He professed the creed of the strictest Pharisees but could always find and excuse for allowing practice of that same creed to lag behind.  He spoke, but he did not do. 

MATTHEW 15:1-9

Jesus rebukes these Pharisee because they use man’s tradition to justify not following God’s law.  Though they professed strict adherence to the law, they looked for every opportunity to escape doing that which was right.  Here rather than support their parents as the Law required, the Pharisees allowed special vows dedicating things only to sacred use, thus creating a loophole for those desiring to use it.  How does this benefit the Pharisee?  Well he could give the finances that should have gone to his elderly parents to the synagogue and then, because many of the priests were corrupt, he would receive part of the money back under the table.  The wait-a-little Pharisee or the excuse giving Pharisee is rebuked by Jesus in Matt. 23:16-22.  The excuse giving Pharisee had made deceit and evasion an art form.  When making oaths they worded it in such a way as to allow them an avenue of escape if they chose to break the oath. This Pharisee is likened to the convenience Christian.  He knows what the word says, and when it is convenient for him or to his liking to obey the word he will do so.  However, when it is inconvenient or unprofitable to walk in obedience he will quickly look for a way out.  This Pharisee ignores James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knows to do good, and does it not, to him it is sin.” He justifies his sin, and abuses the grace of God, saying to himself “but where sin abounds, grace did much more abound.”  Ask yourself, “Is this the Pharisee in me; always looking for an avenue to step out of the will of God and then offering God an excuse for my disobedience”? 

3.     The Bruised or Bleeding Pharisee

              This Pharisee went beyond the required limits and set even higher standards for pious living.  He is called this because rather than looking at a woman in public they would shut their eyes, walk around as blind men and often bumping into any obstruction in their way, thus bruising themselves. They were self afflicting, wearing their bruises proudly because they awarded them a reputation of being very pious.  Jesus rebuked this Pharisee in Matt 23:13 saying …  Even when the people tried to find entry into the Kingdom, the Pharisees presented them with more and more rules and regulations which was as good as slamming the door in their faces.  This Pharisee is likened to the Christians who make everything new and different a sin.  My congregation will tell you that I strongly believe and teach that God through his word has set forth a standard be which we Christians are to live.  At the same time we who teach the word must refrain from adding to that standard.  Rather we must teach people to develop a relationship with Christ and learn to distinguish the leading of the Spirit of God for themselves because the Spirit of God who is in every true believe is there to be our guide and our teacher.  The bruised and bleeding Pharisee draws his gratification from others recognizing how pious he is.  He is likened to the Christian who has forgotten that there is liberty in Christ; a controlled liberty, but yet liberty.  This is the Christian who feels the need to play Junior Holy Spirit for all other Christians, demanding that they obey not only the word of God and the Spirit of God, but also them who are the self appointed helpers of God.  Ask yourself “Is this the Pharisee in me?”

4.     The Hump-backed or Tumbling Pharisee

  These men, in order to show their humility walked bent over like a hunch-back and would not even lift their feet from the ground as they walked.  This of course means that they tripped over even the smallest obstruction they met and were always stumbling and tumbling.  This particular Pharisee would get so hung up on the smallest and pettiest details that he missed the big picture.  Jesus rebuked the Pharisees in verses 23 and 24 saying …

It was universally accepted that tithes were to be given from the main crops.  But herbs for cooking and medicines were not grown in large quantity.  These Pharisees would tithes even from their herb patch, meaning that they would bring 1 sprig of mint and offer it as a tithe.  But these same men could be hard and merciless.  This Pharisee is likened to the Christian who when planning and carrying out an event is anxious to assure that every I is dotted and every “T” is crossed, but while doing so leaves behind a trail of broken, hurt, disillusioned helpers, who get no enjoyment from the event and simply can not wait for it to be over.  This Christians forgets to consider the feelings of others, is impatient and can sometimes be out and out cruel.  Nothing or no-one matters more than having a perfect event.  When the program is over and the pastor is saying what a wonderful job was done, this person will stand there trying to look humble and saying “Oh Pastor it was nothing.  It was such a pleasure to be used by God”.  But the rest of the committee is saying “thank God this is over.  I hope I never have to work on another committee with her.”  Is the Pharisee in you, the one that drives everyone else crazy with tiny insignificant details, failing to see that people are more important than details?

5.     Ever-Reckoning Pharisee

This kind of Pharisee was forever adding up his good deeds.  He kept a balance sheet between he and God and believed that every good deed he did put God a little further into his debt.  We see this Pharisee in Luke 18:11-12.

LUKE 18:11-12

          This Pharisee stands adding up his good deeds before God, and thinking that his good deeds make him better than the publican.  We would never admit that we ever think of God as being indebted to us, but sometimes we believe and act like God has to give us special favor because of the work we have done for him.  We think that life should go a certain way for us because we try to do everything that God ask of us.  But when things go wrong, we get upset with God.  We accuse him of being unfair.  We question his love for us.  We pout, mumble, grumble and complain.  And even if we don’t say it out loud we think and feel that God did not do right by us.  We expect that our good works will be rewarded with good living and though we will not admit it, we feel like God owes us for our Christian efforts.  This Pharisee has forgotten that I Cor. 3 teaches that the believer’s works will be judged at the Judgment Seat of Christ in Heaven and there, we will be rewarded for our good works.  Since God himself is keeping a record of our works, there is no need for us to keep a running account.  However, if you insist on keeping track of what you do for God, I can guarantee that your debits will always outweigh your credits and you will end up in the red.  Ask yourself “Is this the Pharisee in me”?

6.     Timid or Fearing Pharisee

This Pharisee always feared divine punishment.  He was therefore always cleaning the outside of the cup so that he might appear to be good.  Jesus rebukes this Pharisee in Matt. 23:27-28.  Jesus said they were like a graveyard full of white headstones.  No matter how beautiful it looks on the outside, it is still a place that houses dead and decaying bodies.  The outward actions of these Pharisees were the actions of intensely religious men, but their inward hearts were foul and putrid with sin.  This is the person who comes to Church because it is the acceptable thing to do on Sunday morning.  It is where you come to socialize on Sunday.  Sunday morning church has been instilled in them since childhood.   They sing in the choir, teach Sunday school and even serve as deacons, but have no relationship with God.  They think of themselves as good, upstanding, church going people and are confident that as long as they don’t commit gross sins they will make it into heaven when they die.  This type of Pharisee does not recognize that he can never be good enough on his own merit.  Cleaning the outside of the cup and leaving the inside filthy is pointless.  The person who is like this Pharisee does not understand that God has set a standard that requires a change in our inward nature that is then to be followed by a change in our actions.  Ask yourself “Is this the Pharisee in me?” 

A common rebuke for all of these Pharisees is given in Matt. 23:15 where Jesus accuses them of being missionaries of evil.  The evil that they did was that they were not seeking to lead men to God, but rather to be Pharisees like unto themselves.  As Christians we must be careful that we don’t slip into a habit of leading people to our particular church or denomination rather than to Jesus Christ. 

7.     The God Fearing Pharisee

This is the Pharisee who really and truly loved God and who found his delight in obedience to the Law of God however, difficulty it might be.  This Pharisee loved God and out of his love for God he was willing to submit all that he was and had to serving and obeying him.  This Pharisee is likened to the Christian who is sold out to God and is committed to submitting to God’s will for him at all cost.  I would hope that everyone in this room today would be able to answer yes to the question, “Is this the Pharisee in me”?  Even if we see evidence of the other 6 types of Pharisees in us, if we are sold out to God we can be assured that the Spirit of God is continuously at work in us purging us of all that is unlike Christ, turning us into those who are truly the separated one. 

Acts 15:5 speaks of Pharisees who were believers.  They were still hung up the need to be circumcised and the keeping of the Law, but they were still named among the believers.  Ask yourself, “Is there a Pharisee in me and if so, which one.”