Jesus and the Pharisees

1
Jesus and the Pharisees

• Sometimes we have deeper problems that take
  courage for someone to confront us
• Jesus confronted the Pharisees
• Religion was more important than relationship
• Man-made rules replaced love and passion

2
Jesus and the Pharisees

• Focused on rules / didnt recognize Jesus
• Theres a little Pharisee in all of us. Harmful
  though it is, we find a lot of security in our
  iron bars and solid walls.... Tragically, this
  ball-and-chain mentality keeps us from giving
  ourselves in fresh, innovative ways to others. -
  Charles R. Swindoll
• Hooked on rules or hooked on Jesus

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You Might Be a Pharisee If
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Your More at Looking Good Than Doing Good

• 37-42
• Washing
• Good at Looking Good
• Verse 42
• Matt 2323-24
• We can be good at looking good
• You Might Be a Pharisee If

5
You Seek the Attention of Others

• 43
• Wanted the applause of men instead of pleasing
  God
• Matt 61 5
• Matt 235-7
• When good things are done it does bring
  attention.
• What motivates us to do what we do?
• You Might Be a Pharisee If

6
You Contaminate Others With Legalism

• 44
• Num 19- unclean if you walked over a grave
• By their actions and attitudes they were
  contaminating others.
• Not spreading the love of God but legalism
• Matt 2327-28
• Love and legalism are contagious
• You Might Be a Pharisee If

7
You Work at Stealing Others Joy in Christ

• 45-46
• Stealing joy by weighing them down with rules
  that the leaders couldnt obey
• Constant criticism takes the joy out of serving
  Jesus
• We are at different maturity levels
• Need to allow grace to work
• Need to teach truth, need to let people grow
• Jesus came to give us joy
• You Might Be a Pharisee If

8
You Reject the Messenger Because You Dont Like
the Message

• 47-51 53-54
• Willing to honor dead prophets but not obey them
• They would continue this action
• Liked being religious more than they loved God
• Verse 51 53-54
• When you hear something uncomfortable
• Heed the message or get mad at the messenger
• You Might Be a Pharisee If

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Your Ignorance of God Blocks Others From Entering
the Kingdom

• 52
• Leaders are to help people get closer to God
• Busy teaching rules instead of how to love God
• Lets make sure we are sharing Jesus
• Easy to get caught up in Dos and Donts
• Lets not hinder others from coming into the
  Kingdom

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Conclusions

• What did Jesus call us to do?
• Be rule keepers or disciples
• Disciples will keep rules, but walking with Jesus
  is what it is all about.
• Focus on Christ
• Can we be blinded by our religion?
• Not to burden us with rules
• Jesus came to have a relationship with us.