As I read through the first book of the New Testament I am noticing how the Pharisees were always there, plotting against Christ finding ways on how they might destroy Him (Matt. 12:14). Each time they tried to catch Him in blasphemy, healing on the sabbath, and continually tested Him throughout His ministry until His Crucifixion. Just look at how much times Matthew gives an account on how these religious leaders seem to always be right there, close enough to ask questions and close enough to hear Jesus speak clearly:
When Jesus ate with sinners (they were there): “When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Matt. 9:11)
When Jesus healed the demon-possessed man who could not walk (they were there): “But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” (Matt. 9:34)
When the disciples ate on the sabbath (they were there): “When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” (Matt. 12:12)
On the second account of Jesus healing a demon-possessed man (they were there) “But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.” (Matt. 12:24)
(There were there) to request signs from Jesus: “Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” (Matt. 12:38)
When the disciples did not wash their hands (they were there): “Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” (Matt. 15:1,2)
They were close enough to hear Jesus’ words and be offended: “Then the disciples came and *said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?” (Matt. 15:12)
(They were there) to request even more signs from Heaven: “The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.” (Matt. 16:1)
In regards to divorce, (they were there) to question Him: “Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “ Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” (Matt. 19:3)
They were close enough to figure out the parable of the Land Owner was specifically about them: “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them” (Matt. 21:45)
And right after Jesus rebuked these self-righteous religious hypocrites, and exposed their false teaching by condemning upon them eight “Woes” Matt. 23, (they were there) plotting to kill Him: “When Jesus had finished all these words, He said to His disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man is to be handed over for crucifixion. Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him” (Matt. 26:3,4)
When we get an idea of how close the Pharisees were to Christ throughout His ministry we start to see how important it was for Him to publicly expose and refute their false teachings face-to-face. Jesus knew the Pharisees were there listening and lurking, but He didn’t change His words or soften His message to keep from offending these religious leaders (who by the way had very high religious positions), rather He spoke boldly against them opposing every aspect of their falsehood. This bold stance is something every follower of Christ emulated even after His crucifixion, from Peter, to Paul, to Jude, they all stood boldly against every type of False Teachings (something we all should be emulating).
Furthermore, to understand how close the Pharisees were whenever Christ was teaching, preaching, and doing His miracles, gives us a clear indication on who Jesus’ anger and disposition was directed to, it wasn’t against the repentant sinner looking for mercy and forgiveness far from it, but rather His rebuke were against these self-righteous religious leaders who refused to listen to His warnings and rejected His words and those alike (Matt. 23:33).
It is imperative to note however, that by exposing the falsehood and errors of the Pharisees, Jesus basically was giving them the chance to repent (Luke 3:7-9, Mark 1:14-16, Matt. 4:17, Matt. 11:20, Mark 1:14-16), but because of their pride, self-righteousness, and love for religiosity they refused and rejected His words. Ironically, the very people who was “Close Enough” to hear Him were the very people who detested Him.
Which leads me to ask this question: How many times will it take for you to hear or read His warnings to admit your sins and repent and turn from them?
In Romans 1:18-32 Paul tells us: “…what may be known about God is PLAIN to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the CREATION of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been CLEARLY SEEN, being understood from what has been made, so that people are WITHOUT EXCUSE…” (Rom. 1:19-20) This is definitely meant for those who “never” heard the Word of God, however from what we’ve just learned even those who “have” heard the Word of God needs to “Repent” and “Turn” from their sins, for like these Religious Pharisees not everyone who says Lord, Lord will enter into the Kingdom of God (Matt. 7:21)…in fact it is more dangerous for those who have heard God’s Word yet still reject it (Matt. 7:24-27).
Are you a professing Christian yet follow and support the Teachings of the Pharisees? Or are you like the Pharisees themselves, who were “Close Enough” to hear His words yet still refused to repent? God’s word is filled with warnings after warnings for both sinner and the religious, heed to it before its too late.
Think About It.
Marc
1 Thess. 5:21 