Am I a Pharisee?

Am I a Pharisee like those Jewish scholars in the Gospels?

Sometimes I can see where they’re coming from when they challenge Jesus again and again in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John’s books of the New Testament.

Not all the time; but they’re such splendid targets to disdain.

Except when their misunderstandings and words echo in my heart and life.

Then I cringe–and ask God to forgive me!

What’s a Pharisee?

The word means “set apart, separated,” and indicates a Jewish scholar (always a man) during the “second Temple,” period in Jerusalem.

Most of us are familiar with the term because Pharisees were frequent sparring partners of Jesus.

It was an unfair match since Jesus could read the true attitude of their heart and–in his love for them–never let them off the hook.

He called them again and again back to the Old Testament stories and Scriptures they loved–and which they examined for jots and tittles–because they so much wanted to be right.

Distinguished by their love of learning and commitment to the law of Moses, the Pharisees looked for the coming of the Messiah.

They were the acknowledged experts on when he would come and how they would know it was him.

It was all laid out, passages like Isaiah 53 and Psalm 69, along with a host of others. (See the list of 40 fulfilled messianic prophecies here).

Unfortunately, despite their years spent examining the Torah, they didn’t recognize him when he walked about them and fulfilled the law they purported to love.

The attitude of the heart.

God (Jesus/Holy Spirit) looked at the attitude of the heart when He dealt with the Pharisees.

He examined my heart attitude today as well.

They loved God, as do I.

They wanted to serve God, as do I.

They wanted to ensure true religion was being proclaimed–which is why they grilled Jesus time and again throughout all four Gospels.

I understand that desire–which is why I spend my time studying the Bible.

But unlike them, I focus on several points, including a passage out of their Scripture from Micah 6:8–a passage they would have known:

He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Unfortunately, they were not humble, they did not show mercy and while they may have been better than some, their desire for position, power and honor meant they did not always behave toward their fellow Jews, much less the Gentiles, in a just fashion.

I try very hard not to be like the Pharisees in this department.

I’m also, of course, responsible for applying this one–a direction they rejected–from Jesus:

 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40; NKJV)

Asking questions, to make sure

I always give them points for at least asking Jesus to clarify–because that’s where I often find myself.

God, himself, tells us “come now, let us reason together.” He’s not expecting blind faith.

But, when Jesus, time and again, demonstrated his Messiah-characteristics–healing the sick, bringing people back to life, knowing the truth of their hearts–they were given plenty of opportunity to recognize him.

How much did he need to show them, so they could recognize who Jesus really was?

The Pharisees blinded their eyes, they chose not to see. Believing Jesus as the Messiah would take away their power, their status and their authority.

They loved “the things of the world” more than they wanted to worship the Messiah.

I’ve asked questions like theirs, myself.

Time and again, Jesus/God/Holy Spirit has reached out to me, shown Himself for Who He is, and encouraged my oft-times fledgling faith.

How many blessings and examples of His goodness do I need?

Thanks be to God that when I behave like a Pharisee, something happens in my heart.

I get a check, a question, a gentle chide of remembrance of all the ways God has answered my questions in the past.

How can I possibly deny the Messiah?

How could they?

A love that never ends

Pride pushed a Pharisee to his decision two thousand years ago.

But Jesus kept reaching out, beckoning all the Pharisees and scribes to set aside their preconceived notions and open their eyes–all they had to do was follow Him.

My pride sometimes struggles, too.

But then I remember just who Jesus focused on during his last week on earth.

His followers stayed with him, even those who wandered off (think Peter) eventually came back.

Jesus appealed to the scribes and the Pharisees, all the way to the end.

He loved them so much, he took their blindness and sinful pride to the cross, where he died on their behalf–and mine as well.

The result?

Some of the Pharisees in Jerusalem at that time recognized their Messiah.

You can read about a number of them in the book of Acts, starting with Gamaliel–teacher of the Apostle Paul, who was a Pharisee himself.

Acts 6 and Acts 15 also refer to believers who were Pharisees.

There’s always time for a repentant person to recognize and be accepted by the Messiah.

I’m so glad some of them, like me, laid down their pride.

Am I a Pharisee?

Anytime I decide not to love and not to believe Jesus, I adopt the attitude of a Pharisee.

Fortunately, Jesus’ death on the cross provides a way for me to love justice, mercy, humility and those around me.

Even the most hardened Pharisee among us, can do the very same.

Thanks be to God.

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