Jesus and the Pharisees

[Robert Pate]

Jesus and the Pharisees were both teachers of the Mosiac Law. You would think that because they had this in common that they would be friends, instead they were bitter enemies. What was it that made them enemies. Jesus said of them, "They say, but they don't do" In the 23rd chapter of Matthew Jesus referred to them as hypocrites seven times. The Pharisees were deeply offended when Jesus referred to them as hypocrites. No one had ever referred to them as hypocrites before. As far as they were concerned, they were holy men, not hypocrites.

The Pharisees were professional religionist, they even tithed down to the mint in their gardens, Matthew 23:23. Jesus was not impressed with their religious endeavors and called them blind guides. The 23rd chapter of Matthew is a scathing rebuke of them. Jesus called them "Blind guides" "Whited sepulchers" "Snakes" "Fools" and most of all Hypocrites. When I first read the 23rd chapter of Matthew I was a bit shocked of the anger that Jesus had towards the Pharisees. Didn't Jesus teach that we were to love our enemies and do good to those that persecute us?

If was the Pharisees that caused Jesus to be crucified. I suspect that it was the Pharisees that murdered all of the apostles, except for John. They were beyond repentance and were hell bound, all in the name of religion. Jesus said, "They hated me without a cause". Jesus was going about doing good and they hated him for all of the good he was doing. It was the raising of Lazurus that was the straw that broke the camels back. They said, "If we don't kill him the whole world will be going after him, and we will lose our place". So, they plotted to kill him.

In spite of all of the miracles that Jesus did they could not believe in him. They said, "Is this not Josephs son? They just could not believe that he was their promised Messiah. They thought that their promised Messiah would accept them, but instead Jesus rejected them, after that it didn't matter who he was, he had to go.

 

[Robert Pate]

Jesus and the Pharisees were both teachers of the Mosiac Law. You would think that because they had this in common that they would be friends, instead they were bitter enemies. What was it that made them enemies. Jesus said of them, "They say, but they don't do" In the 23rd chapter of Matthew Jesus referred to them as hypocrites seven times. The Pharisees were deeply offended when Jesus referred to them as hypocrites. No one had ever referred to them as hypocrites before. As far as they were concerned, they were holy men, not hypocrites.

The Pharisees were professional religionist, they even tithed down to the mint in their gardens, Matthew 23:23. Jesus was not impressed with their religious endeavors and called them blind guides. The 23rd chapter of Matthew is a scathing rebuke of them. Jesus called them "Blind guides" "Whited sepulchers" "Snakes" "Fools" and most of all Hypocrites. When I first read the 23rd chapter of Matthew I was a bit shocked of the anger that Jesus had towards the Pharisees. Didn't Jesus teach that we were to love our enemies and do good to those that persecute us?

If was the Pharisees that caused Jesus to be crucified. I suspect that it was the Pharisees that murdered all of the apostles, except for John. They were beyond repentance and were hell bound, all in the name of religion. Jesus said, "They hated me without a cause". Jesus was going about doing good and they hated him for all of the good he was doing. It was the raising of Lazurus that was the straw that broke the camels back. They said, "If we don't kill him the whole world will be going after him, and we will lose our place". So, they plotted to kill him.

In spite of all of the miracles that Jesus did they could not believe in him. They said, "Is this not Josephs son? They just could not believe that he was their promised Messiah. They thought that their promised Messiah would accept them, but instead Jesus rejected them, after that it didn't matter who he was, he had to go.

There is much to be learned in Jesus's relationship with the Pharisees. It is very apparent that being religious is not going to make anyone friends with God, if anything religion will make one an enemy with God. The Pharisees were proud arrogant fools that thought that they could earn God's favor by the works of the law. Paul said, "By the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20. Yet multitudes are still trying to be justified by the deeds of the law, just like the Pharisees.

 

[Ziggy]

I think some of them believed he was an anti-christ. And they found his teaching blasphemous.
So in their eyes they were protecting God's integrity.
Then there were some that were waiting for a military king that would conquer Rome and set them free from tyranny.
Then there were others that were on the side of Ceasar, and was afraid of losing their standing.

Lots of things going on at the same time, and most of it political.
Maybe it's not so much about religion as it was they didn't have their heart in it. They surely had no faith in it, for if they had, there wouldn't have been so many sickly among them.
It was their job to look after the people, the sheep. But all they really did was look after their pockets.

Hypocrites. They say they believe one thing and then do exactly the opposite.
The world is filled with them.

Hugs

 

[Robert Pate]

I think some of them believed he was an anti-christ. And they found his teaching blasphemous.
So in their eyes they were protecting God's integrity.
Then there were some that were waiting for a military king that would conquer Rome and set them free from tyranny.
Then there were others that were on the side of Ceasar, and was afraid of losing their standing.

Lots of things going on at the same time, and most of it political.
Maybe it's not so much about religion as it was they didn't have their heart in it. They surely had no faith in it, for if they had, there wouldn't have been so many sickly among them.
It was their job to look after the people, the sheep. But all they really did was look after their pockets.

Hypocrites. They say they believe one thing and then do exactly the opposite.
The world is filled with them.

Hugs

After what Jesus said to the Pharisees in the 23rd chapter of Matthew they had no choice other than to kill him. Hypocrites hate to be exposed for what they are, Jesus exposed them completely.

 

[Ziggy]

No different than today. Just the costumes have changed.

And I tell you what, Governments don't like to be called hypocrites either. And sometimes they turn on their own citizens.
Hard times ahead.
Trust God.
Hugs

 

[Robert Pate]

No different than today. Just the costumes have changed.

And I tell you what, Governments don't like to be called hypocrites either. And sometimes they turn on their own citizens.
Hard times ahead.
Trust God.
Hugs

This is the age of hypocrisy. You can't trust or believe anything.

 

[Sabé]

The names of the Elders, Pharisees and Scribes in the New Testament:

• Doro (the Elder): enemy of Jesus

• Joseph the Ituraean (the Elder)

• Annas (head of Sanhedrin): former High Priest; father-in-law of Caiphas (High Priest); condemns Jesus at trial

• Felix (the Elder [Sanhedrin]): aggressive enemy of Jesus; attacks, plotted against Him

• Joseph of Arimathea (the Elder [Sanhedrin]): big supporter of Jesus; offers his tomb for Jesus’ burial

• Callascebona (the Elder [Sanhedrin]): enemy of Jesus; present at Clear Water, Lazarus’ funeral, trial of Jesus

• Cornelius (Sanhedrin): enemy of Jesus; plotted against Jesus

• Joachim (Sanhedrin): supporter of Jesus; good friend of Lazarus

• Nicodemus (Sanhedrin): big supporter of Jesus, although in secret; met Jesus secretly (Jn. 3); at the Crucifixion and the tomb

• Ptolmai [Tolme] (Sanhedrin): enemy of Jesus

• Uzziel (Uriel) (Sanhedrin): enemy of Jesus; struck Jesus with stones at Giscala

• Nathaniel ben Faba (Fada) (Sanhedrin)

• Simon (Sanhedrin): friend of Joseph of Arimathea

• Judas (Sanhedrin): friend of Philip (Sanhedrin); supporter of Jesus

• Philip (Sanhedrin): friend of Judas (Sanhedrin); supporter of Jesus

• Simon (Sanhedrin): threw out and killed father [Elianna]; went “insane”)

• Joshua (Sanhedrin): supporter of Jesus; friend of Joseph of Arimathea

• John of Gaash (Sanhedrin): “jealous of wife”; friend of Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea

• Eleazar (Pharisee [Sanhedrin]): supporter of Jesus; defended him at Ishmael Ben Fabi banquet and at the Temple

• Haggai (Pharisee)

• Helkai (Pharisee): enemy of Jesus; invited Him to a banquet to trap Him (Lk. 11); plotted in Sanhedrin to attack Jesus; induced Judas Iscariot to help; asked Pilate to take action against Jesus

• Eli (Pharisee): enemy of Jesus; Jesus healed his grandson; participated in plot to recapture the Baptist; at the Crucifixion

• Joachim (Pharisee): enemy of Jesus; at Matthew’s banquet (Matt. 9)

• Simon of Nain (Pharisee): “seems tolerably good” (Peter [564]); held banquet where the Magdalene repents (Lk. 7)

• Uriah (Pharisee): enemy of Jesus; criticized Matthew’s banquet (Matt. 9)

• Doras (Pharisee): hard, cruel person, especially to his servants; beat Jonah (shepherd) to point of death; died in a fit while cursing Jesus

• Eleazar ben Parta (Pharisee): enemy of Jesus; confronted Jesus in Lebonah

• Ishmael Ben Fabi (Pharisee): enemy of Jesus; cruel to his workers and to orphans; Jesus healed man with dropsy on the Sabbath at his house (Lk. 14)

• Jonathan of Uziel (Pharisee): enemy of Jesus; criticized Apostles for picking grain on the Sabbath (Lk. 6); incites Samuel, the Saphorim

• Joseph (Pharisee [Sanhedrin]): attacked Jesus in Caesarea for healing Valeria’s daughter

• Johanan ben Zaccai (Scribe): cruel master of servants; enemy of Jesus. Servants of Johanan: Micah, Saul, Jowehel, Isaiah; treated cruelly by Johanan; believers in Jesus; holily resigned

• Jacob (old Scribe): believed in Jesus after an encounter with Sabea of Bethlechi (prophetess)

• Joel [Alamoth] of Abijah (Scribe): tested Jesus through Sabea; became a supporter

• Archelaus (Scribe): enemy of Jesus

• Sadoc (Golden Scribe): enemy of Jesus; promised sign of rotting flesh coming to life

• Samuel (Scribe): enemy of Jesus

• Hananiah (Scribe): enemy of Jesus; criticized Him at Ishmael’s banquet; plotted against Him in the Sanhedrin; induced Judas Iscariot to betray Him

• John (Scribe): fed crowd after Sermon on the Mount; became disciple; left Jesus after “Bread of Life” discourse (Jn. 6); at Chuza’s banquet to make Jesus king