SOTM 13-Pharisees

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website."For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:20). Jesus' words would probably have been shocking to many, as the Pharisees were quite respected. The Sadducees, and the priestly class (many of whom were Sadducees) on the other hand, were more resented by the common people. Not all Pharisees were bad people—consider Nicodemus (John 3:1ff.) Overall they were greatly respected among those who loved Scripture. They strove for religious revival, where every home became a sort of "temple," where God was honored. Holiness was not just for priests (many of whom were Sadducees), but for all people.Thus it is not surprising that the Pharisees believed they were the ones properly fulfilling the Law. Jesus disagrees. There are three faults Jesus identifies in his teaching.HypocrisyMany of Pharisees only played at holiness.Pretense, pomp characterized their prayer on street corners (Matt 6:5), which was more for public approbation than to honor God.They tended to look down on others who did not maintain the same set of roles—whether biblical, like giving a tithe during OT times, or nonbiblical, like fasting twice a week (Luke 18:9-14).Manmade lawsThey claimed Moses received two sets of law on the mountain: the Torah itself (Exodus 20-Deut 33) plus the oral Torah (their traditions).The Mishnah (c.200 AD) put the regulations of the oral Torah into written form.They tried to build a "fence" around the Law, so that no one would even come close to violating it. Yet they ended up taking their guidelines far too seriously—as though they had the same status as scriptural commands / prohibitions.Discussions about what was legal—e.g. what constituted "work":Sabbath violations: Wearing prosthetic limbs? Shoes repaired with nails? Spitting (which disturbs the dust on the ground and might constitute "plowing")? Swatting a fly ("hunting")?Women looking into mirrors (she might see a gray hair and pluck it out)? Writing in invisible ink?Other laws, like their tradition of Qorban (Matt 15:1-9), which undermined the very purpose of honoring parents (5th commandment).External religionThe scribes and Pharisees were meticulous in obeying the outward commandments of the Law (Matt 23:23).However, Jesus teaches us that we must not only control our outward actions, but our inward ones as well. The Law forbids murder and adultery; Jesus forbids anger and list. Jesus enables people to change from the inside out.In our day, such change will not be accomplished by a “Christian legalism”!Teaching we must exceed the 10% offering (old covenant)—giving at least 11%, since we are under the new covenant. Or that we should fast at least 3x/week, since the Pharisees fasted 2x/week (Luke 18:12).Telling people how many minutes to pray, how many people to evangelize, etc.It’s not about quantity, but quality.ConclusionJesus is saying, in effect, that the religious system as a whole is misguided.We will never accept his radical teachings (Matt 5:21-7:27) if our hearts are misaligned with God’s will.