In what ways can we avoid the Pharisees' mindset in our spiritual practices? Seeing the Issue in Mark 3:2 “In order to accuse Jesus, they were watching to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.” (Mark 3:2) • The Pharisees’ eyes were on compliance, not compassion. • Their goal was accusation, not worship. • A man with a withered hand stood before them, yet their hearts were unmoved. Tracing the Pharisaic Pattern • Legalism over love—rule-keeping became the end rather than the guardrails. • Performance over people—fellow image-bearers got reduced to test cases. • Appearance over authenticity—what others saw mattered more than what God saw. • Control over Christ—tradition was wielded to limit, not to liberate. Practical Steps to Guard Our Hearts • Choose compassion first. If obedience to a tradition keeps you from mercy, revisit your motivation (Matthew 23:23). • Keep humility close. God weighs the heart, not the show (1 Samuel 16:7). • Pursue inner purity. Let the Spirit clean the inside so the outside naturally follows (Matthew 23:25-26). • Celebrate God’s acts of grace in others instead of scrutinizing them. • Replace fault-finding with intercession; pray for those struggling rather than policing them. • Serve quietly; anonymity starves the craving for public applause (Matthew 6:1-4). Scripture Reminders That Keep Us Free • “He has shown you…to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) • “Pure and undefiled religion…is this: to care for orphans and widows…and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27) • “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:13-14) • “If I…have not love, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) • “Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14) Daily Self-Check List • Am I motivated by love or by being right? • Have I rejoiced over another’s blessing today? • Did I notice a need and meet it, or explain why I couldn’t? • Is my private life in step with my public words? • Do I measure success by obedience to Christ, not comparison with others? |
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