Attitude of a Pharisee

[J7]

Really enjoyed this thanks Grace.
I am thinking now, as someone who opines on Scripture, gulp,
"What would Jesus say to me if he pitched up today?"
We need constant correction from the Master.

Here is a typical day in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ - going around destroying the works of the devil and encountering the Pharisee mindset.

Here is a perfect example of religious/Pharisaical ( the word "religious" being used in the negative sense ) people sounding so pious and trying to 'defend their D.I.Y self-righteousness/holiness" and their stand for God and truth in their own minds.

But in effect are grace-haters and grace-fearing too. Jesus encountered it constantly with the self-righteous and He did not have good words to speak to them.

John 9


[SUP]13 [/SUP]They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.


[SUP]14 [/SUP]Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.

( I'm pretty sure Jesus does this on purpose to expose the self-righteous mindset as a lot of His healings were done on their Sabbath day )


[SUP]15 [/SUP]So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”

[SUP]16 [/SUP]Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” (typical religious attack ..He doesn't keep the Law....like "we" do....He is lawless ) But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.

[SUP]17 [/SUP]So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” ( typical response to grace being displayed ..this man being questioned by the self-righteous with an "agenda" in mind)


[SUP]18 [/SUP]The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight

[SUP]19 [/SUP]and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

[SUP]20 [/SUP]His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
[SUP]
21 [/SUP]But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”
[SUP]
22 [/SUP](His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.)

[SUP]23 [/SUP]Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”

[SUP]24 [/SUP]So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” ( typical religious sounding words to try to show they care about God's "glory" )[SUP]

25 [/SUP]He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” (typical response from a person that now "sees" the grace and love of Christ in them )

[SUP]26 [/SUP]They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”

[SUP]27 [/SUP]He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” ( how many times do grace believers in Christ's work keep saying the same things over and over again? )[SUP]2


8 [/SUP]And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. (typical D.I.Y self-righteousness/holiness/Pharisaical types response by saying they are "for God".)

[SUP]29 [/SUP]We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” ( typical Pharisaical D.I.Y righteousness/holiness types response ..we believe "God's word".... it sounds so good...)

[SUP]30 [/SUP]The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.

[SUP]
31 [/SUP]We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.

[SUP]
32 [/SUP]Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind.

[SUP]
33 [/SUP]If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

[SUP]
34 [/SUP]They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. ( again typical D.I.Y holiness types response by attacking his character because he doesn't believe what they believe about Jesus )


[SUP]35 [/SUP]Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

[SUP]36 [/SUP]He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”

[SUP]37 [/SUP]Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.”

[SUP]
38 [/SUP]He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. ( this is the response of us to the grace of the gospel of Christ and seeing the great love of our Lord and worshipping Him only )

[SUP]39 [/SUP]Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

[SUP]
40 [/SUP]Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?”


[SUP]41 [/SUP]Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains .

 

[Grace777x70]

Really enjoyed this thanks Grace.
I am thinking now, as someone who opines on Scripture, gulp,
"What would Jesus say to me if he pitched up today?"
We need constant correction from the Master.

I agree. And we can become a "grace Pharisee" too - if you don't see it like "I do" - you are not of God.

We all see through a glass darkly and are trying to manifest the life of Christ that is in our new creation but these fleshly brains with the world's wiring needs to be constantly renewed to the realities of Christ and all that He has already done for us.

 

[J7]

The problem though with the Pharisees seems to have been more behavioural than doctrinal though, doesn't it?

Luke 18:9-14
In these verses we see the parable of the Pharisee and the publican.
Verse 9 says "And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others":
It seem that many on the BDF display this attitude.
Many proclaim themselves as having a greater knowledge and understand of Scripture when others disagree with them.
They suggest that those who disagree with them do not study as much as they do.
Some go so far as to suggest that those who disagree with them as being lost.

I would suggest that all of us examine ourselves and our attitudes.

 

[hornetguy]

The problem though with the Pharisees seems to have been more behavioural than doctrinal though, doesn't it?

Absolutely. Their doctrine was impeccable.. Paul himself was a Pharisee...

It's the interaction and treatment of others because of your knowledge that makes you become the type of Pharisee that everyone is discussing..

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

I agree. And we can become a "grace Pharisee" too - if you don't see it like "I do" - you are not of God.

We all see through a glass darkly and are trying to manifest the life of Christ that is in our new creation but these fleshly brains with the world's wiring needs to be constantly renewed to the realities of Christ and all that He has already done for us.

So then, a "grace Pharisee" is puffed up by knowledge and using that knowledge to condemn others, just as a "regular Pharisee" does?

If there is condemnation instead of love and care, you are not freely giving what you have been given, are you?

 

[Grace777x70]

So then, a "grace Pharisee" is puffed up by knowledge and using that knowledge to condemn others, just as a "regular Pharisee" does?

If there is condemnation instead of love and care, you are not freely giving what you have been given, are you?

We need to have our words seasoned with grace towards others.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NASB)
[SUP]29 [/SUP] Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

[SUP]30 [/SUP] Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

[SUP]31 [/SUP] Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

[SUP]32 [/SUP] Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Actually if we want to see how an example of dealing with Pharisees is - look to see how Jesus interacted with them. To those that genuinely searched for truth such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea , Jesus gave them words of life. To those that refused the grace and love of God He was very stern in His talk towards them.

 

[Grace777x70]

Love vs Legalism

Jesus constantly pointed out that legalism is void of compassion and mercy. In the story of the Good Samaritan, neither the Priest nor the Levite offered the man who was half dead any help or comfort at all.

In the story of the Prodigal Son, one inescapable truth Jesus reveals is that legalism is incapable of showing mercy or compassion. The critical elder brother wanted to see his brother rejected and punished for his sins.

It is no wonder the Pharisees of Jesus' day could not comprehend His message or understand His lifestyle.

Jesus knew the heart of His Father and the Pharisees didn't.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

We need to have our words seasoned with grace towards others.

Ephesians 4:29-32 (NASB)
[SUP]29 [/SUP] Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

[SUP]30 [/SUP] Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

[SUP]31 [/SUP] Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

[SUP]32 [/SUP] Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Actually if we want to see how an example of dealing with Pharisees is - look to see how Jesus interacted with them. To those that genuinely searched for truth such as Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea , Jesus gave them words of life. To those that refused the grace and love of God He was very stern in His talk towards them.

Yes, He was.
I find I cannot be stern toward them as He was though, because the only reason I know what I know and they don't is because He showed me and didn't show them. I can't be stern with them. I love them. I want them to see what they are doing to themselves. I ache for them. It's an ache that doesn't go away, even when they are stern with me. Is this a defect in me?

 

[Willie-T]

How many of you actually know what a "Pharisee" was?

 

[Grace777x70]

Yes, He was.
I find I cannot be stern toward them as He was though, because the only reason I know what I know and they don't is because He showed me and didn't show them. I can't be stern with them. I love them. I want them to see what they are doing to themselves. I ache for them. It's an ache that doesn't go away, even when they are stern with me. Is this a defect in me?

No, I don't believe it's a defect in you..., There will come a time when the life of the Lord in you will be stern towards those that oppose His love and grace for others. It's not something that we can work up by our own flesh or will-power.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

No, I don't believe it's a defect in you..., There will come a time when the life of the Lord in you will be stern towards those that oppose His love and grace for others. It's not something that we can work up by our own flesh or will-power.

Hah! I disagree. I see men work it up by their own flesh all the time. And then wonder why you give a gentle rebuke for their unloving rebuke.

 

[Grace777x70]

Hah! I disagree. I see men work it up by their own flesh all the time. And then wonder why you give a gentle rebuke for their unloving rebuke.

LOL..oh I agree 100% with what you said here.

I was referring to the time when the Lord in you will be stern to those that oppose others ( Pharisee religious types ) from receiving the grace and love of God. That we don't work up ourselves.

 

[Stunnedbygrace]

LOL..oh I agree 100% with what you said here.

I was referring to the time when the Lord in you will be stern to those that oppose others ( Pharisee religious types ) from receiving the grace and love of God. That we don't work up ourselves.

Maybe shaking the dust from your feet and leaving is for those who won't listen at all and sternness is for those who listen but then try to hinder or prevent...I guess it is worse to not see at all than to say you see when you really don't...

 

[Grace777x70]

Maybe shaking the dust from your feet and leaving is for those who won't listen at all and sternness is for those who listen but then try to hinder or prevent...I guess it is worse to not see at all than to say you see when you really don't...

Our own patience is lacking as we don't have the fullness of Christ's life manifesting in us but He does. Sometimes it is time to just not interact with them and to do this as the pic below shows.

The Lord will then have this happen from us to others that are "fresh"....He will say "Bruce - you are out. Joanie - you are in".

Here you go... you run with My patience towards them that don't really know what they are doing by rejecting the love and grace of God in their lives.

 

[NotmebutHim]

How many of you actually know what a "Pharisee" was?

I remember reading something to the effect that they were originally formed from a group of devout Jews during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah. They reasoned correctly that the Lord had brought upon them the punishment of exile and captivity due to their disobedience to His law and commands. I don't know whether they called themselves "Pharisees" during this time period, but they did try to stay "separate" and they tried to follow the Law as best as they could.

 

[Willie-T]

I remember reading something to the effect that they were originally formed from a group of devout Jews during the times of Ezra and Nehemiah. They reasoned correctly that the Lord had brought upon them the punishment of exile and captivity due to their disobedience to His law and commands. I don't know whether they called themselves "Pharisees" during this time period, but they did try to stay "separate" and they tried to follow the Law as best as they could.

Right on. Hardly a group that began with evil intent as we often assume. In, fact, they were devout, believing men, dedicating their lives and their daily activities for the betterment and acceptance (by God) of physical Israel.

 

[Meggido]

I did not call anyone a Pharisee.
Go back and read the verse I quoted.
Go back and read what I said.
I suggested that WE ALL examine ourselves and our ATTITUDE, especially when we respond to others.

one who expects to be read correctly, needs to read himself....

 

[Denadii]

So, if a WOF actually biblically refutes you, shows your error, you will not concede?

That's right. She won't. That is what she said.