Understanding the Pharisee spirit.

[loveschild]

Understanding the Pharisee spirit.
Even a cursory read of the gospels leaves us in little doubt that the most continual opposition to the work of the Holy Spirit came, not from the Roman Empire the Jewish commoner or the heathen gentile, but from a group of zealously religious people called the Pharisees.
It seems that almost everywhere Jesus went doing God’s work in the power of the Holy Spirit they were there to protest.
Jesus loved the Pharisees enough to die for them, but He hated the Pharisee spirit. He knew better than anyone that He did not wrestle with flesh and blood and He would neither fear them nor come under their spiritual intimidation.
John the Baptist didn't like the Pharisee spirit either.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7)
​

It would be a great mistake to think that the Pharisee spirit was peculiar to those amazing years in Galilee when Christ and His disciples walked amongst men. A great mistake to think that the Pharisee spirit was somehow locked into those special days when the gospels and epistles were written and then they were no more.
Even - in the book of Acts - where we read of Pharisees being believers we still see that spirit manifesting..

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (Acts 15:5)
​

So we can safely say that the Pharisee spirit - often called the religious spirit - is alive and well in the church today, and it would be a brave man or woman who could say that there was not a trace of it in their own Christian walk. As I look back over my Christian life I can clearly see times when I was that Pharisee.
In five years time I will probably be able to look back and see that right now I have Pharisee blind spots. But oh how I want to work with the Spirit of God to rid every bit of the leaven of the Pharisees from my life!
Since this spirit is in terrible opposition to the work of the Holy Spirit and yet appears to be on God's side, it is vitally important that we can recognise the fingerprints it leaves on the Body of Christ.

 

[loveschild]

In order to do so we need to examine the lives, the attitudes, the words and the behaviour of the Pharisees.
Pharisees means ‘separated ones’ a name apparently bestowed upon them by their opponents in substitution for their self chosen title ‘Hasidim’ meaning ‘The pious ones’.
The Pharisees formed themselves into an association which would have given them collective clout. According to the Roman historian Josephus, the association they formed themselves into was 6,000 strong.
They separated themselves from the common man by a scrupulous cold adherence to the letter of the law, but often, if not always, without its true Spirit.
Certain Pharisee bound denominations have 'separated' themselves from other believers, holding the view that they alone are the true observers of the scriptures.
I remember well the time a gospel singer asked me to accompany him to a small gospel hall in my home town where he had been booked to sing during one of the services. When I walked in with my friend - who was well known to them - I sensed their unease. When seven or eight gathered in a side room to pray for the service I instinctively joined them, but it was - not very subtly - made clear to me that I was not allowed to pray since I was not one of them.
The Pharisees were very confident - because of their long and disciplined theological studies - that they were God’s guardians in Israel against wrong doctrine and false teaching.
Despite their in depth knowledge of the scriptures they did not recognize the Author of those scriptures when the Word became flesh and moved amongst them. His teaching offended them.

Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" (Matthew 15:12)
​

They were zealous for God but without a true understanding of the grace and mercy of God and so they ended up in their zeal for God, opposing God. As Paul wrote about his Jewish brethren who had been so influenced by the Pharisees.

For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (Romans 10:2)
​

 

[loveschild]

The Pharisees fasted often, tithed meticulously, behaved righteously before all men and Jesus openly acknowledged this.

"For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:20)
​

Yet despite their outward righteousness they were declared by Jesus to be blind guides.

"Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch." (Matthew 15:14)
​

John Fischer, author of the book '12 Steps for the Recovering Pharisee (like me)', writes

'What makes Pharisaical sin so dangerous is that it disguises itself as a form of enlightenment. This is what Jesus meant when he said,

"If the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" (Matthew 6:23
​

The darkness is great because one is deluded into thinking it is light. You think you are seeing better than anyone else, when, in fact, you can't see at all. This means the idea that what you can't see is farthest from you. A blind person knows he is blind. A Pharisee thinks he can see, and this is why the "light" within him is actually darkness.
​

The mark of Holy Spirit produced 'light' is humility.

So I said: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." (Isaiah 6:5 )
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (Luke 5:8)
​

Whereas the Pha

 

[loveschild]

Whereas the Pharisee 'light' produces the darkness of spiritual arrogance. They were proud of their righteousness behaviour and drew their self worth from their righteousness behaviour by setting their righteousness against the sinfulness in others around them.

"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 18:11) God always opposes the proud (James 4:6) hence Jesus' harsh proclamations of woe to them.

"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. (Matthew 23:13-15)
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. "Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. "Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, (Matthew 23:23-29)
​

Rebuking others was their perceived ministry.

 

[loveschild]

And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, "Teacher, rebuke Your disciples." (Luke 19:39)
​

Finding fault with others was their perceived ministry.

Now when they saw some of His disciples eat bread with defiled, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. (Mark 7:2)
​

Publicly exposing sinful behaviour in others was their perceived ministry.

Then the scribes and Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, (John 8:3).. This they said, testing Him, that they might have something of which to accuse Him (John 8:6)
Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." (Luke 7:39)
​

They were never the friends of sinners, and they accused Jesus (and His disciples) of being just that.

"The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' (Luke 7:34)
And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:2)
And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, "Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" (Luke 5:30)
​

This leaven of the Pharisees was reflected in the attitude of the people.
When Jesus called Zacchaeus down from the sycamore tree and declared that He was going to his house that day the people protested.

But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." (Luke 19:7)
​

As Paul wrote to the church

“A little leaven leavens the whole lump” (1st Corinthians 5:6 & Galatians 5:9)
​

The only things that could be said in their favour was that they really meant well. There were Pharisees who come out well. Nicodemus, Gamaliel and Joseph of Arimathea for instance.
Paul, known as Saul prior to his Damascus Road conversion, was a Pharisee. He genuinely believed that he was a zealous guardian of God's laws and he saw his role as ensuring that everyone else strictly adhered to God's laws.

They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee. (Acts 26:5)
..circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; (Philippians 3:5)
​

With Saul's conversion he was renamed Paul and what a joy it is to read of his view of himself from that point on.

For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (1st Corinthians 15:9)
To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, (Ephesians 3:8)
​

They did not move in the gifts and anointing power of the Spirit, had no understanding of the gifts and anointing power of the Spirit, and therefore concluded that anyone who did had to be moving in demonic power.

Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, "This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons." (Matthew 12:24)
​

 

[loveschild]

A very, very dangerous thing to say, Jesus warned them.

"Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. (Matthew 12:31)
​

When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand in church, they attacked Him for doing it on the Sabbath.

And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" that they might accuse Him. (Matthew 12:10)
​

They were so doctrinally aggressive that church members and even the leaders were frightened of disagreeing with them.
The parents of the blind man who was healed were frightened to say that it was Jesus who had healed their son for fear of the Pharisees driving them out of the church.

His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. (John 9:22)
​

Even the Jewish leaders were intimidated by them and would not disagree with them lest they should be put out of the church;

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; (John 12:42)
​

In this case because they wanted man’s favour more than God’s

for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God. (John 12:43)
​

Their opposition to God’s Spirit at work divided the church.

“This fellow isn’t from God because He’s working on the Sabbath” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miracles” And so there was deep division among them. (John 9:12)
​

They could pull down but could never build up. Their spirit ran contrary to God's Spirit who says

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
​

We read in the Bible where they derided,

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided Him. (Luke 16:14)
​

Where they reviled,

Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. (John 9:28)
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Where they complained,

And the Pharisees and scribes complained, saying, "This Man receives sinners and eats with them." (Luke 15:2)
​

Where they plotted against

Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him. (Matthew 12:14)
​

Where they assailed vehemently, where they cross examined,

And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things, (Luke 11:53)
​

Where they disputed and tested,

Then the Pharisees came out and began to dispute with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, testing Him. (Mark 8:11)
​

Jesus was the Word become flesh and yet they were stricter than Jesus.

"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. (Matthew 23:4)
​

They confronted Him, and His disciples, about not keeping the Sabbath holy.

And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, "Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!" (Matthew 12:2)
​

They questioned Jesus on issues such as adultery, and divorce. But they questioned Him, in their spiritual arrogance, not to learn from Him, but to 'test' Him and try to theologically catch Him out in His teaching.

Mt 19:3 The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?" (Matthew 19:3)
Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words. (Mark 12:13)
​

They tried to trap Him on the question of allegiance to the governing authorities.

"Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" (Matthew 22:17)
​

They were so sure, so absolutely certain, that their zeal for 'truth' was godly and that God would be well pleased with their 'ministry'
However Jesus came with grace and truth

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'" And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:14-17)

​

 

[zone]

could i get the source for this please?

 

[damombomb]

It is the same spirit of religion that accused jesus and led him to his death.People who claim to be religious. or holier than thou.

 

[zone]

Understanding the Pharisee spirit.
Even a cursory read of the gospels leaves us in little doubt that the most continual opposition to the work of the Holy Spirit came, not from the Roman Empire the Jewish commoner or the heathen gentile, but from a group of zealously religious people called the Pharisees.
It seems that almost everywhere Jesus went doing God’s work in the power of the Holy Spirit they were there to protest.
Jesus loved the Pharisees enough to die for them, but He hated the Pharisee spirit. He knew better than anyone that He did not wrestle with flesh and blood and He would neither fear them nor come under their spiritual intimidation.
John the Baptist didn't like the Pharisee spirit either.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (Matthew 3:7)
​

It would be a great mistake to think that the Pharisee spirit was peculiar to those amazing years in Galilee when Christ and His disciples walked amongst men. A great mistake to think that the Pharisee spirit was somehow locked into those special days when the gospels and epistles were written and then they were no more.
Even - in the book of Acts - where we read of Pharisees being believers we still see that spirit manifesting..

But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses." (Acts 15:5)

​

So we can safely say that the Pharisee spirit - often called the religious spirit - is alive and well in the church today, and it would be a brave man or woman who could say that there was not a trace of it in their own Christian walk. As I look back over my Christian life I can clearly see times when I was that Pharisee.
In five years time I will probably be able to look back and see that right now I have Pharisee blind spots. But oh how I want to work with the Spirit of God to rid every bit of the leaven of the Pharisees from my life!
Since this spirit is in terrible opposition to the work of the Holy Spirit and yet appears to be on God's side, it is vitally important that we can recognise the fingerprints it leaves on the Body of Christ.

could you cite your source please Linda?

 

[loveschild]

could you cite your source please Linda?

google it. It was actually much longer. Run out of things to argue about I see. I pray you have a great night Zone!!

 

[zone]

google it. It was actually much longer. Run out of things to argue about I see. I pray you have a great night Zone!!

actually you have a habit of not sourcing your material.
all other forums require it, for copyright purposes.

also, there's the issue of plagiarism. i know you're not trying to pass this off as your own work, so please provide your source Linda.
thanks.

 

[loveschild]

actually you have a habit of not sourcing your material.
all other forums require it, for copyright purposes.

also, there's the issue of plagiarism. i know you're not trying to pass this off as your own work, so please provide your source Linda.
thanks.

I usually put the source. You know that very well as you watch me like a hawk. Your right I'm not putting as my own. You knew that. Just at your regular job of trying to annoy. Oh well another day.

 

[zone]

I usually put the source. You know that very well as you watch me like a hawk. Your right I'm not putting as my own. You knew that. Just at your regular job of trying to annoy. Oh well another day.

uh
no
not trying to annoy.
we are supposedly ADULTS, and you are posting the work of others with sourcing it.
please cite your sources.
thank you.
(ps: i'm not watching you like a hawk....not that big of a deal Linda).

 

[loveschild]

uh
no
not trying to annoy.
we are supposedly ADULTS, and you are posting the work of others with sourcing it.
please cite your sources.
thank you.
(ps: i'm not watching you like a hawk....not that big of a deal Linda).

It was to you Zone like always. Have a good night Ok.

 

[Abiding]

The term "religious spirit" was coined by the charismatic movement. The very ones who want to be the elite. And want the best seats to be noticed
And not held to the scriptures and doctrines. The leaven of the pharisees was selfrighteousness(like the perfect ones today) with the same elitest attitude. With
one other feature they didnt hold to scripture at all. They made a new bible and a whole new religion(judiasm), which made the word of
God of none effect. Anyone who tried to correct them was attacking them and they were killed. Today the religious spirit
is mostly hung on those who want to test the socalled work of the Holyspirit. source: abiding

 

[Deadflesh]

The Pharisees <------This is the Source i beleive. This article is ok, i read most of it, but then Once they Quoted Max Lucado... I kinda lost interest.

However elsewhere on the webstie is This-----> http://christian-restoration.com/fmasonry/

Some VERY informative stuff on here, Loveschild i suggest you look into this a bit. And Zone, you may get some out of it as well.

So though, Linda, you didnt post the site refference...but Thank you anyway, pretty decent from what i have seen so far. Jesus bless you.

 

[loveschild]

The term "religious spirit" was coined by the charismatic movement. The very ones who want to be the elite. And want the best seats to be noticed
And not held to the scriptures and doctrines. The leaven of the pharisees was selfrighteousness(like the perfect ones today) with the same elitest attitude. With
one other feature they didnt hold to scripture at all. They made a new bible and a whole new religion(judiasm), which made the word of
God of none effect. Anyone who tried to correct them was attacking them and they were killed. Today the religious spirit
is mostly hung on those who want to test the socalled work of the Holyspirit. source: abiding

Actually a religious spirit<<<<spirit<<<<<evil spirit<<<<<<but you don't know about all that. It's in lots of people. Not just some Pharasee form the old bible days. It's alive and well these days too. Sorry to say. Have a good night!!

 

[Consumed]

Jesus only mentioned a foul a filthy and a mute spirit. Foul by nature, filthy by sin, mute by never speaking Gods love. That's what I see as a "religious spirit, pharasie spirit, jezebel spirit whatever it is so called spirit it is only one of these three or all three combined, still ugly anyway or what one calls it, anything or one which tries to exalt themselves above God

 

[Abiding]

My point is that like the jezebel spirit its a name made up to hide behind as well as the religious spirit, or any other cliche
bible worshiper, void of spirit, there are many. Its part of the emergent churches training. Im 56, been around a long time.
seen the birth of all this new stuff. Watched it put in the church, and watched it grow.

 

[Consumed]

My point is that like the jezebel spirit its a name made up to hide behind as well as the religious spirit, or any other cliche
bible worshiper, void of spirit, there are many. Its part of the emergent churches training. Im 56, been around a long time.
seen the birth of all this new stuff. Watched it put in the church, and watched it grow.

Hi bro
I do agree, iv actually been wondering of late how thruout the last 2000yrs how much has been changed over time with what seems like some new revelation that passes thru for a while to be changed again. It's the good news of the gospel that should be our focus, it is finished Jesus declared, that which alienated us has been removed now take up the cross and die to self, Love God love your neighbor as yourself, how simple yet man makes it o so complex with all kinds of stuff.