Lesson 3 for April 19, 2014. Who were the Pharisees? “The conservative religious sect or party of Judaism in intertestamental and NT times. It seems reasonably.

CHRIST AND RELIGIOUS TRADITION

Lesson 3 for April 19, 2014

THE PHARISEES: LAW-KEEPERSWho were the Pharisees?“The conservative religious sect or party of Judaism in intertestamental and NT times. It seems reasonably certain that they were the successors of the Hasidim (Chasidim or Assideans), ‘pious ones.’” (SDA Bible Dictionary)The Pharisees refused to follow Greek customs against the Law of Moses. They supported the Maccabean revolution against the Greek. They quickly became the moral conscience of the people.

THE SCRIBES: TEACHING THE LAWThey were mentioned as another group of people (Mt. 3:2), but they were Pharisees assigned to a special mission, interpreting the law.The most famous scribes were Hillel and Shammai (who lived in Herod the Great times) and Gamaliel (Paul’s teacher)They were usually addressed as “Rabbi” (my teacher)

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE SCRIBESAND PHARISEES

The strengths of the Pharisees eventually became their worst weaknesses.

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do…” (Matthew 23:2-3fp)

They were zealous keepers of the law.The studied the law to teach it to the people.They tried to live according to the law.

STRENGTH“…but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” (Matthew 23:2-3lp)

They were hypocrites.Their zeal for the law gradually became a mere external sign.They showed external attitudes just to be praised by men. They were “whitewashed tombs.” (Mt. 23:27)

WEAKNESS

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE SCRIBESAND PHARISEES

The strengths of the Pharisees eventually became their worst weaknesses.

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do…” (Matthew 23:2-3fp)

They taught the people.The Rabbies used examples to teach how not to transgress the 613 rules in the law of Moses.

STRENGTH

“…but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do.” (Matthew 23:2-3lp)

They replaced the law of Moses.The examples that helped them to keep the great law became more important than the law. For example, the “Corban” law allowed to stop honoring one’s parents (Mt. 15:3-6)

WEAKNESS

TRADITIONS OF THE ELDERS“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” (Matthew 15:2)

It is a good thing to wash one’s hands before eating, but no divine law demanded that.

The “washing one’s hands” in this text is a strict ritual. They thought they had to purify themselves just in case they had touched something unclean.

If there was no water, one could imitate the gesture of the washing hands ritual. It was a valid “dry ablution.”

Jesus confronted the tradition because He wants us to grow a true spirit in our heart, and not to seek mere religious appearances.

“They carried the regulations of eating and drinking so far that the mind was kept on a continual strain to discriminate between what was considered clean and unclean, and to follow out the multitude of injunctions imposed by the priests. All the water was strained, lest the presence of the smallest speck or insect might render it unclean, and therefore unfit to use. The people were thus kept in constant fear of infringing upon customs and traditions taught to them as portions of the law; and life was made a burden by these ceremonies and restrictions.By their endless round of forms, the Pharisees fixed the minds of the people upon external services, to the neglect of true religion. They failed to connect the thought of Christ with their ceremonies; and, having forsaken the fountain of living water, they hewed out for themselves broken cisterns that could hold no water.”

EGW (The Signs of the Times, June 9, 1887)

TRADITION AND LAW“He said to them, ‘All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition.’” (Mark 7:9)

Jesus was asked about breaking the traditions of the elders. He answered by establishing priorities. First, the divine law; then, the tradition of elders.

Tradition: “Whoever says to his father or mother, ‘Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God’—then he need not honor his father or mother.”

Divine law: “Honor your father and your mother” (Ex. 20:12; 21:17)

“The law of God requires that a son should honor his parents, and provide for their necessities, and tenderly care for them when they are old. But these false teachers taught that it was of far greater importance for children to consecrate their property by a vow to the temple service. Then when the parents applied to their children for assistance, they could say, “It is Corban, devoted to God.” They taught that it was sacrilege to recall the property once given to the temple and appropriate it to the necessities of the parents. When such a vow is made, it was held sacred; it must be fulfilled; for, said they, has not God declared, “When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it; for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee”? Thus under a semblance of piety these teachers excused the youth from the obligations of the fifth commandment.”

EGW (The Signs of the Times, January 3, 1900)

BEING MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN THE PHARISEES“For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the

righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)

The Pharisaic righteousness was built on self-effort and external behavior. They tried to keep the law to the dot.

The righteousness Jesus seeks goes beyond self-effort, external behavior or keeping the law to the dot. It demands an inner change, a loving obedience.

“But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” (Jeremiah 31:33)

“A legal religion is insufficient to bring the soul into harmony with God. The hard, rigid orthodoxy of the Pharisees, destitute of contrition, tenderness, or love, was only a stumbling block to sinners.

EGW (Thoughts from the Mount of Blessing, cp. 3, pg. 53)

They were like the salt that had lost its savor; for their influence had no power to preserve the world from corruption. The only true faith is that which “worketh by love” (Galatians 5:6) to purify the soul. It is as leaven that transforms the character.”