Why are So Many Like Pharisees, When Jesus Rebuked Them?

Jesus said: “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter, without leaving the former undone.” (Luke 11:42)

When we read Jesus’ rebuke to the Pharisees, it is easy to just think, “Boy, the Pharisees sure were bad!” – and then to go no further. Who were the Pharisees in Jesus' time?

They were the experts in the law – which is to say Bible scholars. Or, at least, they thought they knew it all. But according to Jesus, they did not. They lacked love,and without love, all that knowledge is hollow. In our passage in Luke, He is rebuking anyone who acts like a Pharisee. Since Jesus has a low opinion of Pharisees, why do so many people in our churches act like Pharisees, instead of people who truly love as Jesus calls on us to do?

Today, the majority of Pharisitical people are found right here, among us, in the church. Jesus hates hypocrisy, and the greatest hang out for hypocrites is often found in Christ’s church. So let us open and inspect our own hearts and think about the Pharisee inside of us.

In Luke 11:39 it says: “Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.’” Jesus points out that a hypocrite will clean the outside of a cup, because he wants people to see how clean he is. But he will not take the time to clean the inside, because he doesn’t really care if he is clean – just so long as people think that he is. He is doing everything for a show, so that people may praise him. How foolish! It is like worrying about dirt on your hands, but ignoring greed and wickedness on your heart. Which is the more important to wash clean?

And then the Pharisee is always pointing out the sins of others, just as they complained and criticized Jesus. He was not respected by the Pharisees because He reached out to the hurting people, the down and out, with love. The Pharisees wanted him to turn such people away, because they did not measure up in outward appearances. But Jesus reached out to the poor, the outcasts -- to the tax collectors and the prostitutes.

What is it about Jesus message that so many in the church simply do not get? Jesus won with love, not force. He won people over with his grace, mercy and love. He changed them from the inside out, not the outside in. He met them in their sin and then He showed them a better way, and they changed for the better. But He did not turn anyone away because they were not "good enough." He said it Himself -- only God is truly good. The fact is, we are all sinners,and, if we are saved, we are saved by grace, not by our works or our own "goodness."

So, I say to you, if you are a Pharisee, who do you think you are fooling? God knows your heart. Jesus said woe to Pharisees then, and He says woe to Pharisees now!If you are a modern day Pharisee, it is time to get right with God. Its time to wash the inside of the cup. It is harder than washing the outside, but it is not difficult. Only our pride keeps us from repenting and confessing our sins. For instance, the Pharisees looked like better people than the tax collectors and prostitutes, but Jesus said that these public sinners would enter heaven ahead of the religious leaders.

The effect of the Pharisee's way is to drive people away from God, and to lower God’s royal law of love to the same standard as their own rules. But this is not the way of Christ, who came to set men free. Jesus proclaimed, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:28-30)

Remember that when you point out some one's weaknesses, four fingers are pointing back at you. Try to give out grace the way the Lord is gracious to you.

And know that Jesus will not turn you away. You will not have to pass some kind of test for Him to love you. Do you feel burdened? Come to Jesus who will give you rest. If someone needs help and encouragement, lend a hand. Love them. Jesus said, they will know us as Christians, by our love. (Mark 12:28-31). Be a lover like Jesus, not a loveless, finger pointing Pharisee!