Jesus said, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat" Matthew 23:2.
The religious mind is preoccupied with laws, rules and commandments. Some of the Pharisees tithed down to the mint in their gardens, Matthew 23:23. I suppose they did this to show others how committed they were. I have found that the religious mind is also a proud mind. The Pharisees separated themselves from the ordinary common Jew by the way that they dressed. They enjoyed standing on the street corners with their long robes while making long rambling prayers so that all could see and hear, Matthew 23:5. Which doesn't say much for public prayer.
Religion is always showy and demonstrative. A good example is the two men that went up to the temple to pray, Luke 18:10. One was a publican the other was a Pharisee. The Pharisee stood up and prayed, "Thank God that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice a week and give tithes of all that I possess. The Publican standing afar off, would not lift up his eyes unto heaven, but smote his chest and said, God be merciful to me a sinner". Jesus said that the publican was justified and the Pharisee was not.
Jesus said beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, Matthew 16:11. Leaven represents the corruption and evil of religion. The religious minds believe that they can please God by their works and piety. Laws, rules, commandments, works, are the main preoccupation of the religious mind. This is why many religious people are not able to learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is about Jesus Christ. They could care less about what Jesus Christ has done, they are more concerned about what they have done.
The Pharisees thought that they were God's special chosen ones. After all, were they not the keepers of his law? It was God's plan that the Jewish people were to be the oratoraters and keepers of the Gospel. Maybe someday, but not then. Calvinist also believe that they are God's special chosen ones. Jesus referred to these Pharisees as hypocrites, snakes, sons of hell, blind guides, fools, etc. Were they not religious? Were they not teachers of the law, much like Jesus? Yet, Jesus condemned them. Every Christian should read the 23rd chapter of Matthew so that they can understand the relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees.
The religious mind is preoccupied with laws, rules and commandments. Some of the Pharisees tithed down to the mint in their gardens, Matthew 23:23. I suppose they did this to show others how committed they were. I have found that the religious mind is also a proud mind. The Pharisees separated themselves from the ordinary common Jew by the way that they dressed. They enjoyed standing on the street corners with their long robes while making long rambling prayers so that all could see and hear, Matthew 23:5. Which doesn't say much for public prayer.
Religion is always showy and demonstrative. A good example is the two men that went up to the temple to pray, Luke 18:10. One was a publican the other was a Pharisee. The Pharisee stood up and prayed, "Thank God that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice a week and give tithes of all that I possess. The Publican standing afar off, would not lift up his eyes unto heaven, but smote his chest and said, God be merciful to me a sinner". Jesus said that the publican was justified and the Pharisee was not.
Jesus said beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, Matthew 16:11. Leaven represents the corruption and evil of religion. The religious minds believe that they can please God by their works and piety. Laws, rules, commandments, works, are the main preoccupation of the religious mind. This is why many religious people are not able to learn the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is about Jesus Christ. They could care less about what Jesus Christ has done, they are more concerned about what they have done.
The Pharisees thought that they were God's special chosen ones. After all, were they not the keepers of his law? It was God's plan that the Jewish people were to be the oratoraters and keepers of the Gospel. Maybe someday, but not then. Calvinist also believe that they are God's special chosen ones. Jesus referred to these Pharisees as hypocrites, snakes, sons of hell, blind guides, fools, etc. Were they not religious? Were they not teachers of the law, much like Jesus? Yet, Jesus condemned them. Every Christian should read the 23rd chapter of Matthew so that they can understand the relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees.
