I have always been interested in the Pharisees and their style of leadership. Not that I wanted to be a Pharisee, although I probably am more like the Pharisees than I care to admit.
The Pharisees were one of the groups of religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They seemed to rub Jesus wrong because they were pious spiritual zealots. They knew the sacred law, but they misused and abused these laws for personal gain and to control those under their leadership. As I have studied the Pharisaical attitude, I see several characteristics that define a Pharisee.
The Pharisees were good at setting rules or adding to the rules already in place. They took the good and made it a burden. What was meant to set boundaries became bondage because it was impossible to remember every one of the rules, much less keep them! And watch out because the Pharisees would undoubtedly point out when you were not obeying the rules. For the Pharisees, the rules were more important than people. They used the rules to keep people in line, creating an environment filled with guilt, condemnation, and hypocrisy. This environment caused people to look at the outward person and not so much at the person’s heart. This environment caused people to give up and lose sight of who Jesus was. This was the cause of much of the traumatic injury of that day.
Today this still happens as we set rules for who can be in “our club.” And, we keep people out who do not follow the rules as we have designed them. We determine what a person in our club should look like, how they act, whom they vote for, and much more. If you disagree, don’t apply.
Pharisees judged others, and thus they ostracized people. They thought their prayers were better because their prayers were lengthy. They would stand on the street corner and pray with a loud voice. They would use many complicated words to show how educated and spiritual they were. The Pharisees judged how others dressed, where they lived, how much money they made, and how spiritual they were. They judged others based on their position, title, education, or lack thereof. They had the unique ability to make themselves look better by putting others down. They looked down on people who did not fit their view of who people should be or what they should look like.
Pharisees were more concerned about outward appearance than heart transformation. If one dressed right and acted correctly, they were in the good graces of the Pharisee, but when they did not, they were judged and condemned. If they did not follow the rules, they were rejected and became outcasts. Today, we judge and ostracize people because of their political views, attire, whether or not they have tattoos or piercings, religious affiliation, and racial identity. We judge the heart of people without knowing their stories or history. We judge those who do not look like us or believe what we believe.
In the world of the Pharisees, traditions were elevated to a higher level than biblical truth. They held to the law of Moses and man more than the law of God. They kept to the rules that were man-made but lacked grace and failed the test of godliness. They seemed more upset about people breaking tradition than keeping God’s Word.
Today the church is deeply passionate about traditions. What style is our music, contemporary or traditional? How should we dress in church, casual or suit and tie? Do we sing hymns, choruses, or contemporary music? Some churches have strict membership rules, and others have few requirements. There are so many “traditions” we purport as the gospel truth that has little to do with Biblical truth or salvation, for that matter. These ideas are more about personal preference than spiritual truth.
The Pharisees reacted when their power was threatened. There was no doubt that Jesus threatened their power, and thus they wanted to get rid of Him. On several occasions, they set a trap with their words. They tried to trap Him with theological questions and accusations. They accused Jesus of eating with sinners. They judged Him when He allowed a “sinful” woman to wash His feet. They accused Jesus of breaking Sabbatical laws when He healed a man on the Sabbath. They questioned the way Jesus fasted. It goes on and on!
While it is easy for me to judge the Pharisees, I must ask myself if I present the attitude of a Pharisee. The answer is, unfortunately, that I do. I can judge others. I can be critical when people do not match my expectations. I can become angry when I feel that my power is being tested. I can judge people more about their outward appearance than their hearts.
I am not perfect, but I am growing. I still deal with a Pharisaical mindset. But I am aware of it, which is an excellent place to start. Recognizing a weakness is the first step to becoming stronger and more like Christ. And is that not the goal we have as passionate followers of Christ?
As I close this, let me ask you a question. How about you? Where do you see the Pharisaical attitude in your life? Do you judge more on the outward appearance than the heart? Do you create laws and standards that add to God’s law? Do you hold to traditions that are good but never intended to replace God’s word or plan for your life? Do these traditions cause unnecessary division in the church? Do they ostracize more people than bring people together?
I ask today that you pray and ask God to reveal any Pharisaical attitudes, be bold and wise enough to admit them, and then allow God to heal you.
Copyright Robert W. Odom, 2022
Life on the edge 