Phariseeism and legalism are often used interchangeably. One might be called either legalistic or a Pharisee if he or she attempts to bind any part of God’s word too forcefully. Naturally, when anyone is offended by an explanation of God’s word it is commonly deemed, “too forceful,” and the person guilty of such an interpretation is legalistic like unto a Pharisee. People who are so easily offended by simple reading of the scriptures are uneducated. They are only offended because they have not read the scriptures for themselves. They are not aware of the actual sin for which Jesus condemned the Pharisees. The Pharisees accused Jesus disciples of sin for healing on the Sabbath, picking heads of grain for food on the Sabbath, and many other areas. Simple minds would interpret Jesus’ condemnation of the Pharisees as to say these menaces were interpreting the law of God too strictly. This is anything but the truth.
The Pharisees’ problem lay in the fact that they advocated parts of the law but did not observe those very laws for themselves. “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulder; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by men…” Matthew 23:2-5. The Pharisees were the true definition of a hypocrite. The Pharisees’ other sin was binding laws that were never bound in God’s word to begin with. They made up new laws like Wal-Mart shoppers make up new ways to take advantage of the store’s customer service. In Luke 14, Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees accused Jesus of sinning. Jesus replied in verse 5, “Which of you, having a donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” Jesus was not claiming the Pharisees were just as guilty as He was. Jesus was not guilty. He was rather accusing the Pharisees of taking the law of God to lengths it was never intended by God. The Pharisees were making up new laws.
The Pharisees were not little rascals. They were dirty rascals. They taught one thing and did another. They accused men of sin where there was no transgression. When a child of God reads the Bible and warns his friends of their sins, it does not automatically make him guilty of Phariseeism. Jesus also said, “Judge with righteous judgment,” Jn. 7:24. Think before you say, and don’t let false accusers make you fall away.
Aaron Battey
Old Paths Advocate Blog 