"Pharisees were members of a party that believed in resurrection and in following legal traditions that were ascribed not to the Bible but to “the traditions of the fathers.”
Why did Jesus advise His followers to avoid the Pharisees? What went wrong with them?
(Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees is contained in the entirety of Matthew 23 in the Bible.)
MATTHEW 16:6 6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
MATTHEW 16:12 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
The Pharisees belonged to a traditional, devout "church." The Bible was acknowledged by them as the inspired word of God. They would never consider stealing, being unfaithful, or doing other things like that. A Pharisee would make a good neighbor because they were model citizens.
However, the Pharisees took the Word of God and reduced it to the status of yet another lifeless religion, rather than having a living relationship with God.
Maintaining appearances is the guiding principle of the Pharisees. "As long as you follow the rules (at least officially), what you are on the inside doesn't matter as much."
Take note of how Jesus compared their doctrine to yeast or leaven. Why? The spread of yeast is quick and simple. People are quite likely to approach God in this way, "Maintain the laws. You are fine if you just carry out these ten steps."
We all develop our own rules, even though various organizations may have different ones. It may be how frequently you have to attend church services, what you have to dress, or even how you have to style your hair. Or it might be a list of things you're not allowed to do. However, as long as you adhere to these conditions, your relationship with your group is solid (or denomination).
But according to the New Testament, being in good standing with God depends exclusively on having faith in what Jesus accomplished on our behalf. That alone establishes our relationship with God. Jesus' work, not ours, is what counts.
LUKE 12:1 1 In the meantime, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
The Pharisees lacked sincerity. They essentially put up a show. In private, they were not at all like what they purported to be in public. Although they professed to be faultless in abiding by God's law, they were all sinners just like the rest of humanity since they were fallible beings. However, they stressed in front of others that they must uphold the Law perfectly or face judgment.
They were quick to judge others yet sluggish to show mercy or assistance. The Pharisees misunderstood God's mercy and compassion for mankind because they had a rigid interpretation of God's Word.
2 CORINTHIANS 3:6 6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
It is wrong to use God's Word to "kill" rather than to minister to live. The purpose of God's Word is to uplift and encourage people, not to make impossible demands of them. We are messengers of death when we burden individuals with a heavy burden of rules to follow to be right with God.
If your "Christianity" consists solely of a list of "does and don'ts," then you are missing the point of Christianity, which is a relationship with Jesus Christ.
SAY THIS IN FAITH: Jesus doesn't want me to behave in a Pharisee-like manner.
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