The Pharisees' False Security

The Pharisees placed their security in their heritage and their salvation by works. As descendants of Abraham, the Pharisees felt safe and secure.

“They (Pharisees) answered Him (Jesus), ‘We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone’. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?” John 8:33

Jesus acknowledged their claim, but set them straight in their thinking.

“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.” John 8:37-38

The Pharisees persisted in the argument that Abraham was their father and therefore they were safe and beyond reproach. They advanced the argument by claiming that God Himself was their Father.

“Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God...Why do you not understand My speech?...You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do…’.” John 8:42-44

There are yet today many modern day Pharisees who still believe that being the descendants of Abraham is sufficient for salvation. Paul confronted that same argument as he wrote to the Christians in Rome.

“What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about...For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Romans 4:1-3

Abraham was indeed justified, or deemed righteous before God, but not by obeying the law (which no man could do) but rather by taking God at His word. He believed in that which God had promised even though he hadn’t seen the proof of the promise. If he had indeed fulfilled the law then he really would have had something to boast about!

The sum of the matter is that one is saved by believing the latest and final revelation of God which in this generation is Christ, the only one capable of fulfilling the complete law.

Paul then makes the issue even more clear by specifying which of Abraham’s lineage will inherit the promise of salvation. In other words, not all of Abraham’s descendants will receive the ultimate promise.

“…For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, ‘In Isaac your seed shall be called’... those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed.” Romans 9:6b-8

Subsequently Paul explained in more detail the difference between those born under the promise and those born under the law, or works.

“Tell me, you who desire to be under the law... Abraham had two sons; the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh (law), and he of the freewoman through promise…” Galatians 4:21-23

Paul goes on to describe the two sons.

“Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are children of promise. But, as he who was born according to the flesh (law) then persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what does the Scripture say? ‘Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman’. So then brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman but of the free.” Galatians 4:28-31

This extremely profound passage clarifies the teaching of the two original sons of Abraham.

“Then God said, ‘No, Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his descendants after him’.” Genesis 17:19

The Pharisees of Jesus’ time apparently did not understand the Genesis account or the significance of the two brothers. Modern day Pharisees are basically the same as their first century counterparts, i.e. confidence in salvation by works.

Pharisees - Masters of Political Correctness

The Pharisees began their assault on grace during Jesus' ministry by dismissing the message of repentance by John the Baptist. They thought they were saved and sanctified due to their heritage.

“And when all the people heard him (John the Baptist), even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John. But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.” Luke 7:29-30

The Pharisees were self righteous and outwardly moral. Their appearance was deceiving. Jesus warned His disciples about them repeatedly.

“Also He spoke this parable…: ‘Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector’.” Luke 18:9-12

The tax collector, however, recognized his helplessness and begged for mercy.

“…God, be merciful to me a sinner’! Luke 18:13b

Jesus summarized His parable by comparing the self righteous with the one who confessed his sin.

“I tell you, this man (tax collector) went down to his house justified rather than the other (Pharisee); for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” Luke 18:14

The Pharisees never seemed to recognize the similarities between self righteousness and depravation.

The Pharisees sought recognition and approval from other men. They were entirely politically correct in this manner.

“Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, saying: ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that…do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men…’.” Matthew 23:1-4

Jesus said to the people to do as they were instructed by the scribes if it was truly in accordance with the Mosaic Law. That was the basic duty of the scribes to interpret the law to the people. But then the Pharisees gave instructions for the people to obey their traditions which they themselves had no intention of doing. Jesus told the people to ignore such instructions.

It reminds one of our ‘regulation nation’ and the Affordable Care Act in which the drafters are exempt from its requirements.

But note in particular the last part of the above scripture passage, i.e. ‘all their works they do to be seen by men’.

Paul, once again, addressed that very issue.

“For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.” Galatians 1:10-11

Paul taught that the choice to please men or God is mutually exclusive, i.e. one cannot have it both ways. He stated that if his teaching was for the purpose of pleasing men, he would be forfeiting his relationship to Christ.

Paul taught a similar message to the church at Thessalonica.

“But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words…Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6

And then it can’t be overlooked that the Pharisees loved money.

“Now the Pharisee, who were lovers of money…derided Him. And He said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God’.” Luke 16:14-15

Thus it can be seen that the Pharisees were/are more interested in pleasing men than God.

Significance of the Pharisees...Today

Several months ago this column addressed the doctrine of the Pharisees. Inasmuch as the doctrine of the Pharisees was so significant during the time of Christ’s earthly ministry, logic suggests there would be an application for current times. And so it is, the doctrine of the Pharisees is widely present today and aptly describes those who oppose and suppress the doctrines and teachings of Christ. Such thinking defines the major issues confronting both the church and state today.

Therefore, in the following weeks this column will present a series on pharisaic thinking that pervades contemporary culture. We'll see that such thinking is as dangerous in our present culture as it was during Jesus' original time on earth. We'll examine the folly of their thinking, their issues with Jesus as well as Jesus' denunciation of their doctrine along with their final destiny.

Recall the Jewish sect called the Pharisees originated after the Jews returned to Judea upon their freedom from their Babylonian captivity. The timing would have been approximately five centuries before the birth of Christ.

The Pharisees added many ‘traditions’ to the Jewish law claiming such traditions were derived from the same official law delivered to Moses on Mount Sinai. Such traditions were self serving with the primary purpose to set the Pharisees apart as elitists and holier than the common Jewish person. The Pharisees taught that their ‘traditions of the elders’ carried the same weight as the true Mosaic Law.

Their main problem was that they could not accept the New Covenant and continued to teach adamantly that salvation was still partially based on obeying the law and their Jewish heritage. In other words they could not accept that salvation was a matter of faith alone.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry the Pharisees constantly questioned and opposed His authority and His teachings.

“…Then the Pharisees…asked Him (Jesus), ‘Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders…’? He answered and said to them, ‘Well did Isaiah prophecy of you hypocrites…: This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’.” Mark 7:1-7

Then Jesus summarized the discussion by revealing the unintended consequences of such thinking.

“For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men…making the word of God of no effect through your tradition… And many such things you do.” Mark 7:8a, 13

The significance of this issue cannot be over emphasized. Men invented self-serving ordinances and attributed to them the same weight as God’s laws. Such a practice in effect made ‘the word of God of no effect’ or basically nullifying God’s word.

It can be compared to current policies that contradict God’s precepts such as being a debtor to other nations. Pharisaic thinking is the basis of the practice of drafting and approving legislation that protects those who break God's laws.

During the early days of the church many Jews would not abandon tradition or ritualism.

“And certain men… taught the brethren, ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved’…some of the sect of the Pharisees…rose up, saying, ‘It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the Law of Moses’.” Acts 15:1, 5

The issues of traditionalism and ritualism were several of Paul’s major obstructions in growing the church.

“Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law.” Galatians 4:2-3

Paul’s response was that if anyone depended on the law to save him they must obey the whole law which is, of course, impossible.

Paul taught consistently that depending on works for salvation is deception of Satan. He consistently taught that Christ alone was sufficient.

“Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men…and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him…” Colossians 2:8-10

Paul’s argument was and is the basis of Christian doctrine.

Who Will Have the Last Laugh?

Laughter in the Bible is recorded way back in the time of Abraham. Recall when God told Abraham and Sarah that they would have a child when Sarah was well past normal child bearing years, both of them laughed at the idea. History records that God’s promise was fulfilled with the birth of Isaac at the exact time foretold.

Recall also that Abraham and Sarah had intervened in an attempt to fulfill God’s plan as Sarah offered her maidservant Hagar to Abraham to fulfill God’s promise of a son which would be the seed of Abraham’s own body.

The result was the birth of Ishmael. Subsequently there was animosity between Sarah and her maidservant Hagar from the time of Ishmael’s birth. There was also animosity between their sons Ishmael and Isaac. Such animosity is very much alive today.

The Bible reveals that at Isaac’s weaning celebration when Ishmael was in his early teen years he laughed at the young child Isaac.

“So the child (Isaac) grew and was weaned. And Abraham made a great feast on the same day that Isaac was weaned. And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, scoffing.” Genesis 21:8-9

The Hebrew for ‘scoff’ has several synonyms including laugh, mock, scorn, deride, or make sport.

Later in the Psalms David wrote about the suffering of the future Messiah who would be of the lineage of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob…and David. While suffering on the cross David’s offspring would also be mocked and scorned.

“All those who see Me ridicule Me; they shoot out the lip (laugh me to scorn), they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the LORD, let Him rescue Him; let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him’!” Psalm 22:7-8

A millennium later that prophecy was perfectly fulfilled.

“And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, ‘He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God'. The soldiers also mocked Him…saying, ‘If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself’.” Luke 23:35-37

The Pharisees of that day had also derided Jesus as they attempted to discredit Him and His message. After Jesus had taught them about the impossibility of serving two masters, i.e. God or money, they responded with derision.

“Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money…derided Him.” Luke 16:14

The Greek for ‘deride’ is similar to the Hebrew ‘laugh’ with synonyms including mock or scorn.

Therefore, God’s chosen descendant of Abraham to receive the covenant, namely Isaac, was laughed at, mocked and scorned and Jesus the Son of God through Isaac was also laughed at, mocked and scorned.

But the issue of laughter is far from over.

The Psalmist once again addresses the issue of laughter.

“The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us’. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision.” Psalm 2:2-4

Notice who will be laughing and deriding in the future. The former object of scorn and mocking will be doing the laughing.

The Bible in fact reveals that all who reject wisdom, which is embodied in Christ and offered freely, will partake of God’s derision.

“Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity, I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.” Proverbs 1:24-27

It is so easy to focus on the love of God that many times we overlook the fact that the final book in the Bible focuses on the wrath of God that befalls on all who take lightly the promises made through Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

And so it is, the One who was/is laughed at, mocked and scorned will unquestionably have the last laugh.