What steps can we take to avoid a Pharisaical attitude in our lives? Setting the Scene in Mark 3:6 “Then the Pharisees went out and immediately began conspiring with the Herodians against Jesus, as to how they might kill Him.” (Mark 3:6) The verse reveals hearts hardened by jealousy and pride. Their fixation on preserving reputation and control blinded them to the miracle of Jesus healing a man’s withered hand moments earlier (Mark 3:1-5). To avoid slipping into that same mindset, we must guard our hearts and shape our habits. Recognizing the Core of a Pharisaical Attitude • Exalting rules over relationship with God • Valuing external image more than internal reality • Resisting the work of Christ that challenges comfort zones • Harboring jealousy when others receive grace or recognition A Step-by-Step Path Away from Pharisaical Tendencies 1. Keep Christ at the Center • “The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” (Mark 2:28) • Make every decision and conviction answer to His lordship, not to human tradition. 2. Nurture Compassion over Ritual • Jesus asked, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:4) • Prioritize mercy: “He has told you, O man, what is good…to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8) 3. Cultivate Humility Before God • The tax collector “beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” (Luke 18:13) • “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) 4. Value Heart Obedience, Not Mere Appearance • “You clean the outside of the cup… but inside they are full of greed.” (Matthew 23:25) • “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) 5. Seek the Spirit’s Leading, Not Human Applause • “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:25) • Some “loved praise from men more than praise from God.” (John 12:43) 6. Practice Self-Examination and Repentance • “Search me, O God, and know my heart… lead me in the way everlasting.” (Psalm 139:23-24) • “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins.” (1 John 1:9) 7. Embrace Community Accountability • “Let us consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds.” (Hebrews 10:24) • “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17) Living the Contrast: Serving Like Our Lord • Choose sacrificial service: wash feet instead of pointing fingers (John 13:14-15). • Celebrate God’s work in others rather than competing with them (Romans 12:15). • Keep the gospel of grace central, remembering that we stand by mercy alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). By cultivating these Christ-centered habits, we leave little room for the pride, rigidity, and hostility that marked the Pharisees in Mark 3:6, and we reflect the compassion and humility of our Savior. |
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