Are you a Pharisee?

General Faith
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What I mean by asking this, in your faith or beliefs are you overly critical or judgemental of others? Do you seek to use knowledge of law or scripture to disparage or discredit others who walk in the same house (Christians). Do you persistantly critique the way others believe?

Are you a Pharisee like in the Gospels? Do you know anyone like this?
What are your thoughts and opinons about this?

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I know some Pharisees. At least, that’s how I’ve come to think of them. They are more concerned with dissecting the word than actually living it out. Now that’s a rough statement to make and who knows what goes on inside. But truthfully, I don’t see Jesus in them although they would disagree.
But I also consider that we are all different and we’re all accepted in the Beloved, to those who are called by His name. I’d rather err on the side of grace than anything else, so I try not to disagree.

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I sense your question is of the peirazƍ kind, not asked to understand, but to test and entrap. So let me return the question with one of my own: are you approaching this as a Pharisee?

Church discipline is the process of correcting sinful behavior among members of a local church body for the purpose of protecting the church, restoring the sinner to a right walk with God, and renewing fellowship among the church members. In some cases, church discipline can proceed all the way to excommunication, which is the formal removal of an individual from church membership and the informal separation from that individual.

Matthew 18:15–20 gives the procedure and authority for a church to practice church discipline. Jesus instructs us that one individual (usually the offended party) is to go to the offending individual privately. If the offender refuses to acknowledge his sin and repent, then two or three others go to confirm the details of the situation. If there is still no repentance—the offender remains firmly attached to his sin, despite two chances to repent—the matter is taken before the church. The offender then has a third chance to repent and forsake his sinful behavior. If at any point in the process of church discipline, the sinner heeds the call to repent, then “you have gained your brother” (verse 15, ESV). However, if the discipline continues all the way through the third step without a positive response from the offender, then, Jesus said, “let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector” (verse 17, ESV).

The process of church discipline is never pleasant just as a father never delights in having to discipline his children. Sometimes, though, church discipline is necessary. The purpose of church discipline is not to be mean-spirited or to display a holier-than-thou attitude. Rather, the goal of church discipline is the restoration of the individual to full fellowship with both God and other believers.

The discipline is to start privately and gradually become more public. It is to be done in love toward the individual, in obedience to God, and in godly fear for the sake of others in the church.

The Bible’s instructions concerning church discipline imply the necessity of church membership. The church and its pastor are responsible for the spiritual well-being of a certain group of people (members of the local church), not of everyone in the city. In the context of church discipline, Paul asks, “What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?” (1 Corinthians 5:12). The candidate for church discipline has to be “inside” the church and accountable to the church. He professes faith in Christ yet continues in undeniable sin.

The Bible gives an example of church discipline in a local church—the church of Corinth (1 Corinthians 5:1–13). In this case, the discipline led to excommunication, and the apostle Paul gives some reasons for the discipline. One is that sin is like yeast; if allowed to exist, it spreads to those nearby in the same way that “a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough” (1 Corinthians 5:6–7). Also, Paul explains that Jesus saved us so that we might be set apart from sin, that we might be “unleavened” or free from that which causes spiritual decay (1 Corinthians 5:7–8). Christ’s desire for His bride, the church, is that she might be pure and undefiled (Ephesians 5:25–27). The testimony of Christ Jesus (and His church) before unbelievers is important, too. When David sinned with Bathsheba, one of the consequences of his sin was that the name of the one true God was blasphemed by God’s enemies (2 Samuel 12:14).

Hopefully, any disciplinary action a church takes against a member is successful in bringing about godly sorrow and true repentance. When repentance occurs, the individual can be restored to fellowship. The man involved in the 1 Corinthians 5 passage repented, and Paul later encouraged the church to restore him to full fellowship with the church (2 Corinthians 2:5–8). Unfortunately, disciplinary action, even when done correctly and in love, is not always successful in bringing about restoration. Even when church discipline fails to bring about repentance, it is still needed to accomplish other good purposes such as maintaining a good testimony in the world.

We have all likely witnessed the behavior of a youngster who is always allowed to do as he pleases with no consistent discipline. It is not a pretty sight. Nor is the overly permissive parent loving, for a lack of guidance dooms the child to a dismal future. Undisciplined, out-of-control behavior will keep the child from forming meaningful relationships and performing well in any kind of setting. Similarly, discipline in the church, while never enjoyable or easy, is necessary at times. In fact, it is loving. And it is commanded by God.

Correct? And oh, you SHOULD be dissecting the Scriptures for yourself and always be willing to NOT agree re the non-essentials with others.
It’s a vocation, not a vacation and put the Imperatives into action yourself.

J.

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Understood, and no test or trap, more so a call to self reflection.

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Paul frequently exhorts believers to practice sober self-examination and spiritual reflection. In 2 Corinthians 13:5 he writes, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” In the Greek text, both peirazete (πΔÎčÏÎŹÎ¶Î”Ï„Î”, “examine”) and dokimazete (ÎŽÎżÎșÎčÎŒÎŹÎ¶Î”Ï„Î”, “test/prove”) are present active imperatives, meaning Paul is commanding continual and ongoing self-examination, not a one-time act. The believer is called to continually assess whether his profession aligns with genuine faith in Christ.

Likewise, in 1 Corinthians 11:28, Paul says, “Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.” The verb dokimazetƍ (ÎŽÎżÎșÎčΌαζέτω) is again a present active imperative, emphasizing ongoing spiritual discernment before partaking of the Lord’s Supper. The reflexive pronoun heauton (጑αυτόΜ, “himself”) shows that this examination is deeply personal and inward.

Paul continues this theme in 1 Corinthians 11:31, where he states, “But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged.” The Greek verb diekrinomen (ÎŽÎčΔÎșÏÎŻÎœÎżÎŒÎ”Îœ) carries the idea of carefully discerning or evaluating oneself. Paul teaches that honest self-judgment and spiritual discernment are necessary marks of Christian maturity.

In Romans 12:3, Paul warns believers “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment.” The contrast between hyperphronein (áœ‘Ï€Î”ÏÏ†ÏÎżÎœÎ”áż–Îœ, “to think arrogantly”) and sƍphronein (ÏƒÏ‰Ï†ÏÎżÎœÎ”áż–Îœ, “to think soberly”) reveals that biblical self-reflection must be governed by humility and sound judgment rather than pride or self-exaltation.

Similarly, Galatians 6:4 says, “But let each one test his own work.” The verb dokimazetƍ once again appears as a present imperative, stressing continual testing and proving of one’s conduct before God rather than comparing oneself with others.

Paul also broadens this principle in 1 Thessalonians 5:21: “Test everything; hold fast what is good.” The command dokimazete calls believers to continually examine doctrine, conduct, and spiritual claims with discernment.

Finally, in 1 Corinthians 4:4, Paul writes, “For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me.” The verb synoida (ÏƒÏÎœÎżÎčΎα) relates to conscience and inward awareness. Paul acknowledges the role of conscience and self-awareness, yet he ultimately submits final judgment to God alone.

Taken together, Paul’s theology of self-reflection is not mystical introspection or self-centered analysis. Rather, it is a continual, Christ-centered examination of one’s faith, doctrine, conscience, conduct, and spiritual fruit in light of the truth of God’s Word.

My question still stands: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” instead of constantly searching online for Pharisaical characters. They are everywhere.

How is your personal Bible studies? Are you learning from the Ruach HaKodesh?

This the kind of self-reflecting you ask Christians @BetterDays?

J.

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I didn’t see anything peirazo in this question (had to look that one up). I just saw @BetterDays wondering about something he’s seen and checking with others to see if they’ve seen it too.

The problem with written communication is misunderstanding. We each bring to what we read our own mindset and mood when we read it and can miss the point or we can miss the heart of what someone has to say. I’ve been there and done that.
I think his point was that knowledge isn’t everything although knowledge is important. What you do with the knowledge, and how you use the knowledge for the benefit of others is the important thing.
Truthfully, I appreciated the question.

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“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matt. 16:6, Mark 8:15, Luke 12:1), “Then they (The Disciples) understood that He did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the DOCTRINE of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:12)

“Doctrine” translated to the Greek word didachēs means “instructions” and “teachings.” This command to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees and Sadducees were meant for anyone who call themselves “Christian” (disciples of Jesus Christ). So why is it that so many professing Christians cannot seem to identify this teaching and are so easily deceived? Its simple, Christians are more involved in the religious aspects of Christianity rather than the Truths of God’s Word
ironically we set aside the “Doctrine” of Christ and embrace the very thing He warned us about—the Doctrine of the Pharisees.

I would NEVER embrace such falsehood, such horrific and blatant anti-Christian teachings! You say? But on the contrary, there are more Christians today embracing the teachings of the Pharisees than the teachings and instructions of Christ. Lets take a look at Scripture regarding the Pharisaical way:

They attributed the works of Christ to Satan (Matt. 12:24)
It never ceases to amaze me how these Word Faith / Positive Confession type teachers associate “Teaching, Preaching, Rebuking, Exhorting, and Correcting” to something that is influenced by Satan. As we learned in yesterday’s lesson, these false leaders love to use their “own way” of teaching, with most of these leaders considering these things to be “Judgmental” and the cause of “Division.” In my own experience, while trying to find my way out of the Word Faith Movement, I clearly remember how I was made fun of for praying and reading my bible, it was said “Satan is leading your brother to read his bible on his own” Amazing isn’t it?

Signs and wonders was what they longed for (Matt. 12:38, 16:1)
Charlatans and counterfeits like Benny Hinn, Aimee Semple McPherson, Jimmy Swaggart, Robert Tilton, Morris Cerrulo, and almost everyone else from the Trinity Broadcast Network have been feeding the people with “Signs and Wonders” for decades. It is impossible to claim “We don’t support the Doctrine of Pharisees” yet support movements like these.

They transgress the commandment of God for their own religious traditions and rituals (Matt. 15:1-6)
In the context of Matthew 15 it’s significant to point out what Jesus was referring to here, how these selfish religious leaders ignored the commandment to Honor thy Father and Mother by proclaiming it is better to give to God (or their church) than giving to your parents: “But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is ‘devoted to God,’ they are not to ‘honor their father or mother’ with it. Thus you nullify the word of God for the sake of your tradition.” There is no doubt we see this very thing happening within these Word Faith Positive Confession type of movements all over television, they continually ask for money making it seem what you give is for the Kingdom of God. This definitely is leaven left from the doctrine of the Pharisees.

They draw near to God with their mouth and honor Him with their lips, but their heart are far from Him. (Matt. 15:8)

J.

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You hit what I was aiming for, thanks for the great responses.
It’s exactly that a question I’ve had and wondered if others experience similar situations and individuals.

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My studies are progressing I’m currently in the Gospel of Matthew, reading chapter 24, in the OT I’m passing into kings from samuel.
I’m also studying a few other things on our education thing “edovo” just finished a lesson on “Critical Thinking” now on one for finances, also studying chess videos and improving my game and thinking processes.

God Bless, thanks for inquiring.

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Flip the pages, Matthew 25 is a great chapter.

Answer to your question.

J.

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My son got loaded on cotton candy and funnel cake, I said, “you’ve been to the fair I see.”

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Could we have the characteristics of a Gospel Pharisee if we belong to Christ and continually depend on the fullness of Scripture to renew our minds and correct our behaviour? That said, in almost every local church there will be those whose outlook is shaped by religious dos and don’ts.

I can well remember not long after coming to Christ (1977) being in our local Baptist church when a man came in and sat in the pew in front of me. He was rough-and-ready to say the least. In a loud whisper an elderly lady said, “They shouldn’t allow people like that in here,” or words to that effect. She was missing the point wasn’t she!

When the dividing work of God’s living Word doesn’t happen, when we don’t allow it to teach us, when it doesn’t train us to live righteously, when we don’t have ears to hear sound teaching in our local assembly, we may well think and behave like a Pharisee. When biblical truth gets stuck in our heads and we are formal, academic believers, we may become little more than theological do-gooders.

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If your son would have bought an Icee, it would have been a Fair Icee. (I love puns).
KP

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Truthfully, I think we all have the tendency to be pharisees at times, if we’re honest. I know I do. Even as I read the Gospel accounts of the Pharisees, I tend to think that I’m not like them—which is ironic because that’s what they themselves thought, that they weren’t like other “sinners.”

This reminds me of a quote by the late Pastor Tim Keller: “You are more sinful than you could ever dare imagine and you are more loved and accepted than you could ever dare hope-at the same time.”

As we grow to know Christ more, we see more of our shortcoming and sin and the true abundance of his grace. It’s like the snowball effect in a good way—understanding more of God’s grace produces joy, and that joy produces thankfulness, and thankfulness produces love for neighbor, etc.