Yeshua had strong words for the scribes and the Pharisees of the Bible time.
Scribes were men of great knowledge of the Torah, the law, and could draft legal documents of wedding, divorce, etc. They were a critical part of society and every village needed one.
Pharisees were a religious sect men who also knew the law very well. Their emphasis was on personal piety, moral superiority and a separateness from common people and things. The word "Pharisee" comes from a Hebrew and Aramaic words "parush" or "parushi" meaning "one who is separated."
These men, although being in high religious standing, were often the subject of Jesus' harshest rebukes. Why?
Because they often allowed their knowledge and societal standing to poison their hearts. They believed they were better, holier, than those around them to the extent that they not only became cruel, but hypocritical- often not practicing what they preached.
Rather than being compassionate teachers who guided the people toward holiness, they became overbearing, self-righteous, proud slaver drivers who added to the law, and stripped it of its mercy and goodness.
They became tyrants who did not practice what they preached.
Yeshua's words describe them in Mattityahu (Matthew) 24 verses 4 and 5:
"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."
"They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’"
They loved status, praise, and let their position go to their heads. They demanded respect and saw others as below them, disdaining the very people they were mean to shepherd.
We know how God feels about the pride of men. James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Where humans love praise and to be exalted, Jesus says when we feed and clothe the "least of these," we feed and clothe Him.
Jesus was worthy and deserving of sitting in every high place, yet He came down from heaven and sat among the poor, wretched, and the lost to lead them back to Himself. He was not cruel or harsh. He did not display worldly pride or pile burdens on the already burdened. He was not verbally lashing those who came to Him for help from low places.
Rather, He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and displayed God's great mercy and love while calling for holiness and leading people away from sin and toward everlasting life.
In the ultimate act of humility and service, He was even scourged, paraded, stripped, and hung on a cross before all.
If Jesus could lower Himself for others, if He could provide grace and love while deserving of glory, how much more can we who know Him serve and share this love with others?
If you've experienced the harshness of a Pharisee, go to God for healing and forgive. It was painful to live under Pharisees. One never felt right with God and there was alway a condemnation or burden waiting.
But there is no condemnation in Christ. Give your pain to Yeshua and He will heal you. Forgive just as Jesus forgave on the cross.
Do not imitate them. Hebrews 6:12 says we should imitate those who through faith and patience, inherit the promises."
Imitate Christ. Imitate mentors and teachers who are not only filled with correct theology, but are filled with God's love.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2
Hold fast to your confession. The Bible says in the last days people will take on all kinds of behaviors and attitudes. The body is not exempt. But we can stay on the narrow road that leads to life by holding fast the mind and heart of Christ Jesus.
Let Yeshua heal you. Forgive. Move on. Let the Holy Spirit make you like Him.
In Jesus' name we pray this for everyone reading,
Amen
Sow into Remnant of Zion and help us minister to the body of Yeshua and reach the unsaved.
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