Problem with Pharisees  © 2017 WF Cobb Truthbase.net DailyTruthbase.Blogspot.com

I. A Pharisee doesn't know nor obey/serve God, just selected rules of God; which focus on checklist externals and rituals, thus redefining Biblical godliness and righteousness (knowing and doing what is right/pleasing in God's sight), and neglecting the weightier matters of a Holy Spirit guided relationship with God: love/loyalty (hesed), justice, wholehearted obedience/service, and wind up serving satan's will and opposing God's will,  because like satan,  they care more about how they appear to others (and their own unsanctified value system), rather than God's praise. They lack HS wisdom and the fear of God (but fear men instead).

Dumb Mt 22:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken/err, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God

Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge (light), I also will reject you... 

Jn 5:38 you do not have His word abiding in you,(Jn 15) bec whom He sent, Him you do not believe. 39 You search  Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life...testify of Me. 40...not willing to come to Me that you may have life. 42 I know you do not have the love of God in you. 44 How can you believe, who receive honor from one another,  do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?

Evil Mt 9:4 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? 13 But go and learn what this means: Hos 6:6 'I desire mercy/hesed and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.' For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." 14 disciples of John came to Him "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?"

II. Demonic Deception due to self-willed pride and unsanctified values, from  lack of HS guiding them by humble meditation on the whole truth

Eph 2:1And you He made alive who were dead in/by trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked acc to the course of this world, acc to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our  flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. Rm 12:1-2

Stubborn - HS is not working in them, guiding into all truth (Jn 14; 16)  Acts 7:51 You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute?

Prideful Self-trust Lk 18:9...who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: 11 Pharisee  prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men: extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'  14 everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." 2Cor 10:12 ignorance 

Not good enough Mt 5:20 unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes- Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven

Mt 23:1 chair of Moses...tell you, do and observe, but do not do acc to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. 

Rm 2:29 he is a Jew who is one inwardly; circum is that of  heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God

Judge from human perspective; don't have spiritual insight; don't try to see how what is said could be true (cx preconceptions)  

Jn 8:31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him: If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you  shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free 37 seek to kill Me, bec My word has no place in you. 40 seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth  41You do the deeds of your father...42 If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded/came from God... not come of Myself, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.

*44 You are of/belong to your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God."

52 "Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, You say, 'If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.'

Js 3:14 if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, natural/sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion/disorder and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, equitable/reasonable, willing to yield, full of mercy/hesed and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist/stand against the devil and he will flee from you (cf 1Pt 5 sound-minded/vigilant/sound in faith). 

8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

III. Dark and Defiled hypocrites can't see the Light and lead others into darkness  Mt 15:2 Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders...eat bread? 3 "Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? 4 God commanded, saying, 'Honor/obey your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses/diminishes father or mother, let him be put to death.' 5 But you say...6 then he need not honor his father or mother.' Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. 7 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: 8 'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. 9 And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. 

10  called the multitude  "Hear and understand: 11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man." 12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" 13 But He answered and said, "Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted Ps1. 14 Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch 15 "Explain this parable to us."

16 So Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? 17 Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. 20 These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man."

Impure hearts (from which mouth speaks 6:45) Lk 11:39 Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal. But the Lord said  "you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup/platter; but inside of you, you are full of ravening greed and wickedness 40 Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 42 "Woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 44 Hypocrites! like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them. 46 you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. 52 Woe...taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered."

Lk 11:53-54 When He left Pharisees began to be very hostile, question Him closely, plotting against Him to catch Him in something

Fear & Rage cloud thinking  Mt 21:45  chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them...they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet. If u don't fear God-fear people

Lk 6:10...hand was restored as the other 11 But they were filled with rage, and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus

Miss the obvious due to preconceptions & seared conscience  Mt 12:38 16:4 discern sky not times evil/wicked and adulterous/unfaithful generation  seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. And He left them and departed

Illogical Mt 12:22-24 demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?" But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."

Short-sighted Values Lk 12:43 Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Praise from Men Mk 12:38 “Beware of the scribes who desire to walk in long robes, love respectful greetings, best seats synogogues, places of honor at banquets 40 devour widows' houses, and for appearance's sake make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."

Mt 6:2 (no reward if) give as hypocrites do in the synagogues/streets, that they may have glory from men. 5  love to pray...that they may be seen by men 16 may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

Hypocritical Liars Lk 20:20 watched Him, sent spies who pretended to be righteous, in order that they might catch Him in some statement "Teacher, we know that You speak and teach correctly... but teach the way of God in truth. But He detected their trickery

Mk 3:1-6 watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 

Lk 12:1 Mt 16 Mk 8 Watch/beware leaven of Pharisees, hypocrisy/teaching 2  nothing covered that will not be revealed 3  spoken in the dark,,heard 

Pr 17:4 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; A liar listens eagerly to a destructive/wicked/perverse/malicious/spiteful tongue.

Undermine and reject authority with lies Mt 12:22 a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, (spoke and saw). All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, "This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?" But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons."

Hosea 6:6 For I desire mercy/hesed and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Conclusion: A Pharisee is a believer who resists the HS and His Word (Ac 7), thus are unsanctified and untransformed, doing satan's will rather than God's. Since hypocrites don't abide in the Vine, nor have His words abiding in them, they are energized by their father the devil and his world. They don't sense God's pleasure with them, so they seek it from others, sacrificing much for group acceptance/security (communianity or churchianity). Satan is a liar and father of lies (begets them)  and seeks to blind people to truth, replacing it with usually simple compartmentalized (often institutionalized) traditions for security/well-being. Hypocrites focus on doing rather than being  (want to get worth from doing what they think is God's will  rather than knowing God and His will via His Spirit's Word and guidance). A hypocrite can't see what is right in front of their eyes because it conflicts with their unholy values/heart or tradition. They wear a mask of Truth-following, but inwardly reject it, and its transforming power.  Blind guides, stumbling in darkness rather than light, they lead others astray, or push them away from Christ-following. Can't discern God's purposes (weather, yes, hesed no; God wants reality, not ritual). They embrace and spread lies, and seek to silence the truth-tellers. They unbiblically judge by human perspective and cultural standards, and thus set themselves up for temporal and eternal judgment.  “Woe 7x to them!” -Jesus Mt 23

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. Are there modern day Pharisees? How about legalists or lawless? Churchianity or communianity believers? Traditionalists or Truthless?

2. As a result of interaction with a believer, do people run away, fall in the ditch, or climb to the mountain top (and help others do the  same?

3. Since Pharisees are blindly convinced they are right, what hope is there for them to repent? How do the HS and His word give light?

4. How do you know/experience God and His will? Are you sure that you are not a deceived mask-wearer, following the doctrines of demons 1Tim 4:1

5. How can you avoid the problems of the Pharisees? Study the intro and concl (above) and make sure none of the flaws in your life (Hint: Biblical Fellowship)