What was wrong with the Pharisees? Why did Christ condemn them? Was it for keeping the letter of the law? WHY would He condemn them for doing what HE, HIMSELF said? HE DIDN’T!
He never condemned them for the righteous things they did!
Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Notice He said that tithing of mint, anise, and cummin was GOOD! He commended them for doing that - but the problem was, they were NOT keeping the rest of the law!
Matthew 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Notice He said that they had SOME righteousness - just not enough.
Matthew 23:1-3 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: FOR THEY SAY, and DO NOT!
He did NOT condemn them for professing to believe and preach the letter of the law that He, Himself gave them… He condemned them for not doing it themselves…
Luke 16:14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him.
The world today seems to have the idea that the Pharisees kept the letter of the law perfectly - and that they were condemned because they didn’t have “love”. But the Bible says they were covetous - the tenth commandment is “Thou shalt not covet” - therefore, they DID NOT KEEP the letter of the law!
John 7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and yet NONE of you keepeth the law? …
So it’s clear, they didn’t keep the law. Christ Himself said so. But this wasn’t their only problem! Read the rest of this entry »