In what ways can Christians avoid the Pharisees' attitude in Matthew 23:30? Setting the Scene • Matthew 23:30 records the Pharisees’ confident claim: “And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’” • Their words sounded honoring to the prophets, yet Jesus exposed them as self-righteous, blind to their own sin, and ready to repeat their fathers’ rebellion (vv. 31-36). • The lesson is timeless: it is easy to congratulate ourselves for what we think we would have done “back then,” while ignoring present disobedience “right now.” Understanding the Pharisaic Attitude • Historical distance bred self-deception. They judged past generations without judging themselves (cf. Matthew 7:3-5). • Religious activity replaced heartfelt obedience (Matthew 23:5, 23). • They honored God’s messengers in word while rejecting God’s message in practice (Acts 7:51-52). Recognizing the Danger Today • We can admire martyred missionaries yet neglect the Great Commission next door. • We can defend biblical truth online yet ignore Scripture’s call to personal purity and humility. • We can commemorate courageous reformers yet resist correction in our own church life. Practical Steps to Avoid the Pharisaic Attitude 1. Embrace continual self-examination – 1 Corinthians 10:12: “So the one who thinks he is standing firm should be careful not to fall.” – Ask, “Where am I prone to the same sins I condemn in others?” 2. Confess sin quickly and honestly – 1 John 1:8-9 warns that denial is self-deception; confession opens the way to cleansing. – Keep short accounts with God and people. 3. Marry doctrine to obedience – James 1:22: “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” – Study Scripture with immediate intent to obey what it reveals. 4. Honor God’s messengers by heeding their message – Hebrews 13:7: remember faithful leaders and “imitate their faith.” – Test everything by Scripture, then act on the truth even when it confronts comfort. 5. Cultivate humility in community – Galatians 6:1: restore others “with a spirit of gentleness…watch yourself.” – Invite brothers and sisters to speak truth into blind spots; receive correction gratefully. 6. Practice tangible mercy and justice – Micah 6:8 links walking humbly with acting justly and loving mercy. – Serve the vulnerable; generosity guards against self-centered religiosity. 7. Keep the cross central – Luke 18:13-14 shows the tax collector justified, not the self-assured Pharisee. – Daily remember that salvation is by grace alone; pride withers at Calvary. Daily Heart Checks • “Am I more aware of others’ failures than my own?” • “Do my actions back up my admiration for past heroes of faith?” • “When Scripture confronts me, do I rationalize or repent?” Key Scriptures to Keep Close • Matthew 23:29-36 – Jesus’ full confrontation of hypocritical homage. • Luke 11:28 – “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it.” • Psalm 139:23-24 – a prayer for God to search and lead in the everlasting way. When believers walk in ongoing humility, obedient faith, and honest repentance, the Pharisees’ boast—“We would never do that”—is replaced by a Christ-honoring confession: “Apart from Him, we can do nothing” (John 15:5). |
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