Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So, you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.”

Matthew 23:1 – 7

During Jesus’ day, the Pharisees were the most popular, the most exemplary, Jewish movement.  They were the Jews of the Jews, the most dedicated to the Law of Moses.  The Pharisees took the law literally while the Sadducees, the ruling party, spiritualized the Law, so to speak.  The religious people of Israel lauded the Pharisees for their obedience to law, in every detail.

So, it is not surprising that Jesus pointed to the Pharisees’ obedience to the Law as God’s will for mankind to be a good thing.  He almost complemented them!  So, you must be careful to do everything they tell you. Then, in a quick shift of focus, he criticized them severely, not for their adherence to the Law, but for using their exalted, holy position to instruct the Jews on how to please God, by complete obedience to their lists and lists of laws. The had the appearance of being most holy, but were far from it. They made the Godly life all but impossible for the Jews. They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

The Pharisees were intent on emphasizing their holiness. “Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.”

That is how Jesus saw them, contrary to the popular view that elevated the Pharisees above all Jewish teachers.  He saw through their attempts to be the most exemplary Jews.  They were, in his eyes, the greatest hypocrites! For they were convinced that they were doing the most holy thing possible, obeying the law handed down to them and they looked with disdain on all others.

I write these thoughts as Lent comes to a close.  I want to praise God for the saving work of Jesus Christ that opened the door for a poor sinner like me – to enjoy the blessings of God.  I was reminded this morning of how Jesus is now the Mediator between God and man.  Without that mediation, I stand as hard and unloving as a Pharisee.  God, have mercy on me.