The Problem with the Pharisees

            The Pharisees were many things.  First, they were one of three major Jewish sects (The other two were the Sadducees and the Essenes).  Second, they were teachers of the law of Moses, and thus a major religious influence in the day.  Third, they liked the praise of men, and Jesus condemned them for it.  Fourth, and most importantly, though they were teachers of the law (they knew the Scriptures), they failed to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, the one promised in the very Scriptures they memorized and taught.  Jesus reveals this with the first of seven “woes.”  He states, “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces.  You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to” (Matthew 23:13, NIV).

            How is it that the teachers of the law and the Pharisees shut the kingdom of heaven?  First, they do not recognize who Jesus is.  He has revealed himself as the promised Messiah, and they rebel against his statements.  Not only do they rebel, but they lead others away from Jesus, and ultimately they have their hand in Jesus’ death.  These “shepherds” of the people of God, have rejected God’s Messiah, and they have led the sheep farther away from God in their rejection and rebellion against Jesus’ Messianic role.

            What does this mean for us?  First, the future kingdom of heaven promised in the Old Testament, has broken in to our present reality.  The kingdom is already here—it is inaugurated—but it is not yet consummated.  Second, the way we enter the kingdom of heaven is by aligning ourselves with who Jesus says he is.  We must agree, obey, and swear allegiance to Jesus’ rule.  Third, we must tell others of the kingdom of heaven, and the primacy of Jesus, who is the king.

There is a temptation which all Christians face, but it is faced most by those who lead.  The temptation is to love the notoriety of the Christian life.  What notoriety is there in the Christian life?  Well,  because of certain actions many can observe your life and think you are more mature than you really are.  For example, there are many people in churches across America, who break out the big Bible, who use the Christian jargon, and raise their hands in worship, while they are at the worship center.  Once they leave the worship center, then they go back to a normal godless life, not thinking much about anything Christian, until next Sunday rolls around.  Now observing such people at worship, or CE, or worldview conferences, etc., one would think they are what a Christian is supposed to be.  But truth be told, it is all for show.  There is no life, there is no conviction, there is no love for God, they simply like other people to think highly of them.

            Jesus’ words though warn against seeking exaltation in this life.  He states, “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matthew 23:12, NIV).  Jesus does a few things with these words of warning.  First, he is making an allusion to his life as the model for the Christian life.  Jesus was humbled and led a humble life culminating in death on a cross.  Once dead, God raised him from the dead, and gave to him the place of great honor, to sit at his right hand.  This is the model for Christian life.  Paul picks up on it in Philippians 2.  In this chapter Paul encourages the Christians to follow the example of Christ by putting others before their own interests.  This is the mark of the Christian, serving others.

            Second, Jesus warns against seeking notoriety in this life, for if you seek for man to think highly of you, then you forsake God.  In other words, one who seeks notoriety in this life, will cut themselves off from eternal life.  This is what Jesus means by “humbled.”  One day those who seek exaltation in this life, will be condemned for they did not follow the way of Jesus, who first was humbled, then exalted.