TTo discuss what modern Pharisees are we must first define what we mean by Pharisee and what the gospels were going through such great lengths to demonstrate in terms of negative effects on the people.
Jesus seemed to think the following of the Pharisees:
1. That they were hypocrites.
2. That they did not understand the inner meaning of the Law and the scriptures.
3. That they had set up a system to measure spiritual status and worthiness that emphasized external religious practices, thus neglecting the inner path of spiritual rebirth, which is “the key of knowledge.”
I'd like to thank Phil McLemore for the 3 point definition of what typifies a Pharisee.
I'll share the scripture quotes from church today about how the Pharisees put the letter of the law above the spirit behind it to the spiritual detriment or even at the cost of the lives of the people they essentially governed.
"7 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.
2 And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.
3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.
4 And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.
5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?
6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do."
So because some did not adhere to the ritual of washing their hands they were shamed for it. They were shamed for not looking the part regardless of the contents of their hearts. It is not adherence to BYU grooming standards that makes you a good member, it's not being able to honestly hold a Temple recommend and it's not paying a full tithe that makes us a good person. It's how we treat people, like those who can do nothing for us that determines how close to Christlike we are.
Here is more of Marks Gospel describing more of the scene:
"14 And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:
15 There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.
16 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
17 And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable.
18 And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;
19 Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats?
20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
Jesus in essentially saying "It's not what goes in your mouth that defiles you, it's what comes out" means is that what you eat does not affect you in any way spiritually, but if your heart has gone sour then your words and deeds, that proceed from your heart, will be sour as well.
And in Luke Jesus lays down the ultimate condemnation of the Pharisees, a condemnation that needs to be leveled on our own generations n especially.
37 And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat.
38 And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
39 And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.
40 Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also?
41 But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
43 Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.
44 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
45 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
46 And he said, Woe unto you also, ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
47 Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.
48 Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.
49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.
So one of the most charged accusations Jesus levels against the Pharisees is that they take the law of God and use it to burden, to punish, to demean, and to dominate those who didn't know every letter of it even if they knew the very spirit and intent behind every letter of the law. This is why Jesus, His followers and the Pharisees were at odds and flat out incompatible with one another.
How often have we meet church members and leaders at every level of the church who have more in common with the Pharisees than they do with Christ? Pretty often as those who are most Pharisaical tend to rise up the ranks of the church leadership. Or so it would seem.
I have heard of the concept of the higher law which can only be d scribed by comparison, for example; Moses wrote "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Meaning that if an enemy wrongs you then you receive an eye for an eye as recompense. But Jesus taught us to love our enemies.
Moses also taught that we should offer sacrifices to the Lord yet Jesus taught that if we are angry with our brother we should leave our gift and reconcile with our brother before God will accept our offering. Moses said "Though shalt not commit adultery, whereas Kesus taught that if we look upon another with lust we have committed adultery.
The spirit of the entire law and the philosophy of Jesus regarding it can be summed up succinctly with 3 commandments; 1) Love God with all our mind, with all our might and strength 2) Love you neighbor as we love ourselves and 3) Love one another as He loved us and by that shall all know we are His disciples.
Simple and elegant philosophy and spirituality yet nearly impossible for us all, which is why w each have yet to be translated. But we can work towards this daily. If we want to be Christlike then all we can do is do our best daily, the more we do the more we can do tomorrow and the next day and the day after that. We can't change who we are or who we've been but we can change who we b come. We might not be there today but in ten years we will be so much closer than we are today. And that effort is all that can be asked of us.
If we nourish the Christ within us the more He will bloom inside of us and the more that will pour out of us as a well of living water because our hearts will have been purified. We won't just find salvation from ourselves but we may provide that for others as well, just as Christ Himself did for ahead so disciples who then did it for their followers.
