Being A Pharisee And Not Knowing It! by Greg Gordon

"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are." (Matthew 23:15 NIV)

There are many great deceptions and problems that we have to deal with in the Christian life: Pride, selfishness, exalting one's self, justifying sin, and many others heart-attitudes are what comes to our mind initially. But what if I suggested to you that having the heart of a Pharisee is something more dangerous then all these combined. Of course we agree the Pharisees were wrong, they were religious, hard-hearted and cruel to others that were not as fortunate as them to life so godly. They looked down on all sinners and felt they had the corner on God! The Pharisee's judged by outward appearance and judged everyone else so they could feel better about themselves. But the sad and tragic truth is the Pharisee's did not feel they were wrong at all! They had a self-righteous heart but did not know it, they were self-deceived.

Now we consider ourselves in our day. Can we be a Pharisee and not know it? Pursuing holiness, godliness and the overcoming life how could that be wrong? Could someone who is speaking all the right things and loving righteousness and hating wickedness be wrong? We can have big bibles, impressive ministry work, many testimonies of overcoming specific sins, yet still be in the throe's of a Pharisaic heart and attitude. I could imagine the Pharisee's coming together a few times a week to their secret meetings confessing their sins and proclaiming areas that they were doing better in. "I didn't even look at any of those prostitutes on that street corner this week!" , "I didn't even reply to those people who were joking about sin, I just gave them a cold righteous stare.' , 'those other religious teachers across the street they really don't have the truth and light we have!" This all does not appear wrong or overtly sinful at first look, yet our Lord spoke the hardest against those that were confessing to preform very well religiously.

Our Lord declares to those we are having this heart-attitude: "Woe to you." Oh that you would hear the passion and love of the Lord towards you today. He is declaring "Be in great distress over your condition, May you see it and weep and realize your dangerous standing." Our Lord weeps over such in our day that have the same heart as the Pharisees of old and still he cries to His father "Forgive them for they don't know what they are doing." If we are catering this Pharisaical heart we are not only a blockage to the work of God in this day but we are an active hinderance. We are hindering those others to come into the narrow way of life even by preaching the narrow way. It seems good to preach the message of the narrow gate and narrow way but if it is not with love or compassion then it will never build the kingdom of God.

The Pharisees had a few converts and they became just as self-righteous as themselves. Our Lord speaks with such a broken heart over this sad situation "a single convert" yet the world of millions are not your concern. You care for the one that justifies your condition but not for the thousands that if you had the love of Christ would serve and love unconditionally. The Pharisees felt that it was love to judge others, it was love to condemn sinners, they felt they were being loving to require a very narrow way with many rules and standards. But they did not realize or understand the love of God for sinners or themselves. If one has not experienced the love of God then he cannot share the same unconditional love to others.

A Pharisee does not have a great love for the Person of Jesus Christ but only for their performance and repentance that they feel God will accept. May we truly repent of this heart-attitude if it is found in us. Our Lord has such compassion and weeping over you even if you do not realize you are a Pharisee. Come to Jesus today and pray: "Lord, I love you with all my heart, you purchased me with such a great price, I am yours and I do not have to prove myself to you. I am your slave. Use me how you will. If I have a hidden self-righteousness in me please Lord take it out. Pour your love out in my heart that I may love others as you love them."

This "love" will allow the working of the Spirit back in your life and allow you to share the great message of God's love with many. May God continue to keep us from being a Pharisee and not knowing it!

Watch out brother, when you preach on love, they will come gunning for you :) Before you know it you will be accused of having a license to sin! Thats okay, the Truth is umoved by accusation. A man with an experience will not be outdone by a man with an argument, or something like that. It does my heart good to hear you speak in this manner. The Pharisee is the most deceptive counterfiet Christian because the flesh loves to justify itself and redeem itself, it robs the work that only Christ can perform and leaves the recipient broken and lying in the ditch............. brother Frank

Well, in a lot of ways, a great deal of believers have the Pharisee trait. Anyone of us who have the habit of pointing the finger at others have that characteristic.

If I may add to your writing brother, Pharisees have a hard heart toward the truth even when it's being shown in plain sight. Many of us fall into that catagory. It is said, "He came unto His own and His own received Him not".

That is a pretty scary verse. It could be said of us if we are hardened to the truth. Frank has a thread that says, "behold I stand at the door and knock". It could be said this way, "He came unto His own house and knocked and His own would not open the door and receive Him". They were His people and we are His people and Greg's message is a sobering message, to me it's frightening because anyone of us can find ourselves in that place, being in His house and still not recognize Him, His word and work.

"Frank has a thread that says, "behold I stand at the door and knock". It could be said this way, "He came unto His own house and knocked and His own would not open the door and receive Him".

That is exactly what I was saying bro. I have witnessed the door being slammed shut and it made my blood boil.And it was abundantly apparent that the folks slamming the door shut had no idea because they were so lost in their own philosophy and dogma.........bro Frank

Paul learned a good lesson from watching Stephen, though it didn't save him - but The LORD did.

Stephen's story was told recently and his final words should ring in our hearts as well, as they're the words that Jesus spoke from the cross ... "And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." And when he had said this, he fell asleep."

1Co 9:19-23 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

1Cor 10:23-33 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.
Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth.
Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake.
But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof:
Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience?
For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks?
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God; even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Romans chpt 14

No where in His Word does it teach us to 'hate' - except to hate sin - not people. Quite the contrary, we're told we are perfected by His love for others, even 'pharisees', that we somehow personally perceive as our 'enemies'.

Heb 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness/hatred springing up trouble you,
and thereby many be defiled...

Thank you LORD GOD for the example of your Son and Stephen.

Out of the blue, was just reminded of Carter Conlon's sermon, "Beware of The Angry Watchmen".

I do believe it was preached in love.

From all that I recollect - Jesus condemned the pharisees for their lack of love for GOD and others.

That was their Number One Main problem.
They weren't condemned for 'keeping' the Commandments - but for neglecting the Main two.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

A Pharisee does not have a great love for the Person of Jesus Christ but only for their performance and repentance that they feel God will accept. May we truly repent of this heart-attitude if it is found in us. Our Lord has such compassion and weeping over you even if you do not realize you are a Pharisee. Come to Jesus today and pray: "Lord, I love you with all my heart, you purchased me with such a great price, I am yours and I do not have to prove myself to you. I am your slave. Use me how you will. If I have a hidden self-righteousness in me please Lord take it out. Pour your love out in my heart that I may love others as you love them."

This "love" will allow the working of the Spirit back in your life and allow you to share the great message of God's love with many. May God continue to keep us from being a Pharisee and not knowing it!

It is wonderful to hear some of the comments. May God use these meager words to impact and change our hearts. Lord keep me 100% free from a Pharisaic heart.

God is so amazing. Not 30 minutes ago I was talking w/a sister about the difference between discernment vs. being a Pharisee. Then 10 minutes ago the Lord showed me how I've been a Pharisee in raising my young son, and in thinking towards others. Then I just opened the computer to this site and this post jumped out at me.

Praise the Lord for His mercy and loving grace in showing me these things. I pray He continues to reveal these things in our hearts which grieve Him so that we can repent now and not at the judgment seat. I'm so grateful also for my sweet son's forgiving heart. I pray I don't ever become a hindrance to his faith, I pray for complete deliverance from this sin heart condition and that the joy of the Lord and the fruits thereof would abound. I pray we all receive hearts of mercy, grace unabounding and love for all. That the Lord breaks our hearts for what breaks His, for enduring patience, wisdom, discernment, guidance, joy and mercy for all. In Jesus name.

Jesus please guard us from hearts if Pharisseism. Our Savior please give us hearts yielded to your precious Spirit by which we can manifest his blessed fruit. In your blessed name I pray. Amen.

Blaine