Modern-Day Pharisee

I don't know about you, but one of my biggest pet-peeves is the Modern-Day Pharisee. Those that "say and do not." (Matt. 23:2-3) I'm talking about the full-force hypocrite. The person that acts "holier than thou" on Sundays or around their Christian acquaintances, and parties on Saturday nights. The type that praises God in front of men, and do their own will behind close doors, or around their non-Christian acquaintances. The type that stop worshipping God when they leave the church building on Sunday afternoons. But you know what? If we're all honest, we could probably admit to doing some of these things ourselves. For instance, take myself-I advocate going to church, but in reality we rarely make it to anything other than Sunday morning service. And boy, can we come up with the excuses... "We're tired. It's a 30-minute drive for us. My daughter is cranky. My daughter's feeding schedule doesn't align with church time. I don't know which class I would go to. I don't want to go by myself. The list could probably go on. Yes, we're all sinners. Romans 3:10 tells us that. "There is none righteous, no not one." And 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

The difference, then, between the sinner and the Pharisee-the hypocrite? The Pharisee protests to be perfect. They parade around judging others, never admitting to sin, putting on a show for man, that they are Godly. The true Christian sinner admits he is not perfect, but steadily tries. Goes to church not for show, but for help and encouragement, seeks to do God's will regardless of the praise or acknowledgment he might get from man.

The modern-day Pharisee really hasn't changed that much since Jesus' day. In Matt. 22, they tried to trap Jesus and test Him, trying to show He was not who He said He was. The modern Pharisee does the same to Christians they are threatened by, envious of, or that isn't like them. The Pharisees dress in the finest clothing and look down on those who don't. They call themselves Father, Brother, or Sister, in public to make known to men they are saved. Jesus says in Matt. 23: 25-56:

"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisees, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also."

There are many ways here on earth to "clean the outside of the cup." We put on make-up, we dye our hair, we get our nails done, we go to the gym and tanning bed, and these days we even have plastic surgery. But no matter what we do to make our appearance Heavenly and perfect, these methods cannot clean what's inside. Even with all of these outward appearances, the Lord still knows what lies within. And most of the time a person's true colors will show to those who know them well here on earth too. Appearances fool only those that look only at appearances.

Peter speaks of the conscience often in I Peter chapters 2-4. He tries to encourage the Christians of that time to endure what I imagine to be the Pharisee-type's criticisms. Verse 16 of chapter 3 says, "Having a good conscience; that whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ." And chapter 4 verse 4 says, "Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you." The modern-day Pharisee-type does the same thing to well-meaning Christians. I've personally been in this situation, which I suppose is why the modern-day Pharisee is such a hot button for me! I've had people I thought were my friends, family, and even other "Christians" speak evil of me and falsely accuse me based on my life in Christ. It especially doesn't feel good when someone you worship with makes fun of you for being "too zealous." Is there such thing as "too zealous?" This question could be a whole other article and ties back to last week's article on what's most important in your life? If God truly comes first, can you be too zealous? If someone says I'm too zealous, obviously we have different priorities. So how did I deal with being spoken ill of for trying to be like Christ? I wrote the other person off as a Pharisee, and acknowledged that these Pharisees of today will have to answer for their own conscience. They may be able to fool men on earth, but our God will hold them accountable for what's inside their cup. They can make over their outside appearances, but that won't fool God. And I pray for them. Matt. 12:36, "...that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." God will know our true intentions in everything we say and do.

Jesus says to "clean first that which is within the cup and platter." So what can we do to clean the inside? First we must figure out what is most important. I Peter 4:2 says, "that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God." We must change our hearts and repent of our past ways. Look truly at your heart. Are you serving God to do His will, for Him? Or are you putting on a show for men to see? Speaking of God and His word only around your Christian acquaintances and following the lusts of men the rest of the time? If you're having trouble deciding, here's a challenge. Next time you do a good deed, don't tell anyone about it! If it eats you up inside and you just have to tell people about it-Houston, we have a problem! Are you seeking the praise and approval of men, putting on a show? Someone once told me of a very nice thing they did for someone, out of the blue. While it was a truly nice and giving act, why did they feel the need to tell me and everyone about it? What are your motives for worshipping and serving God? Here's my encouragement to do God's Will for Him, to serve Him. Not to impress your neighbor, or to fit in a clique, or to build rapport with someone, or for status. Be willing to do His work, regardless of the praise or the persecution.