Charateristics of modern day Pharisees and Sadducees

Commentary on Matthew 23: Are you a Pharisee?

Matt 23 vs. 2-3 – ² “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. ³ So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

The Pharisees didn’t obey the laws they give. They gave the laws and broke the laws; Jesus came to teach people not only to believe the law, but practice the law.

Matt 23 vs. 4 – They tie up heavy loads and put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.

Pharisees increased the burdens of the people. But Jesus came as a burden bearer and yoke breaker.

Matthew 23 vs. 5: “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;

Pharisees played to the gallery, sought self-glory and dressed flamboyantly to gain public attention. Jesus lived a life of piety, humility, and meekness while on earth.

Matthew 23 vs. 6: they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;

Pharisees were attention seekers and reserved grand and special seats for themselves; while Jesus lived a life of lowliness.

Matthew 23 vs. 7 – they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’

Pharisees liked to be publicly addressed with double barrel and high sounding titles, while Christ was meek while on earth.

Matthew 23 vs. 13 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!

Pharisees were hypocrites; as they hindered the spread of the gospel why pretending to be children of God.

Matthew 23 vs.3 – So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach,

Pharisees worshiped God with their lips, not their hearts, whereas Jesus taught that worshippers must worship God in the spirit and truth.

Matthew 23 vs.8 – “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers

Pharisees liked to be introduced with flattering titles- great men of God, anointed men of God, God’s general, etc.. Whereas Jesus did not carry any title in front of his name.

Matthew 23 vs. 9 – And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.

Pharisees encouraged people to look unto them rather than unto God, they took the glory that belonged to God by encouraging people to call and treat them as ‘father’. Whereas Jesus said there is only one father, which is God.

(Matthew 23 vs.14) – You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.

Pharisees oppressed, exploited and robbed the very people, including widows they are supposed to help.

Mathew 23 vs 14: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.

Pharisees are pretentious, as they sought to be honored by saying long prayers in the streets.

Matthew 23 vs.17 – You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?

Pharisees are foolish for they honoured the gold that decorated the temple, more than the temple; they honoured the cover of the bible more than the word written.

Matthew 23 vs.23 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices — mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law — justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Pharisees were religious but not merciful. They faithfully paid tithes, but failed to practice the acts of faith, mercy, holiness, and righteousness. Jesus preached that we must not only pay tithes, but also practice the spirit of the law.

Matthew 23 vs.25 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Pharisees were full of iniquity and sin. They were physically beautiful but spiritually ugly.

Matthew 23 vs.10 – Nor are you to be called ‘teacher,’ for you have one Teacher, the Christ

Pharisees made themselves lord and master over their congregation. Whereas Jesus preached that the leader should serve the followers.

Matthew 23 vs.1) – “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.

Pharisees were great evangelists, but they ended up converting people into hell rather than heaven.

Matthew 23 vs.25 – “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Pharisees were materialistic, greedy, and fattened themselves through spiritual exploitation and manipulation.

(Matthew 23 vs.33) – “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell.

Pharisees were cunny, deceitful, crafty, and dishonest. Jesus described them as vipers and serpents.

Matthew 23 vs.13-15 – ¹³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. ¹⁵ “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.