Topical Bible: Answers To Prayer: Refusal of Pharisees

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In the New Testament, the Pharisees are often depicted as religious leaders who were resistant to the teachings and works of Jesus Christ. Their refusal to accept Jesus as the Messiah and their opposition to His ministry is a recurring theme. This resistance is also evident in their approach to prayer and their expectations of divine response.

Scriptural Context

The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish sect during the time of Jesus, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the traditions of the elders. They were often in conflict with Jesus, who challenged their legalism and hypocrisy. In the context of prayer, the Pharisees are portrayed as individuals who, despite their outward religiosity, lacked the humility and sincerity that God desires.

Key Passages

1. Matthew 6:5-6 : Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for their public displays of piety, including prayer. He states, "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. But when you pray, go into your inner room, shut your door, and pray to your Father, who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

This passage highlights the Pharisees' focus on external appearances rather than genuine communication with God. Their prayers, aimed at gaining human approval, are not aligned with the humility and sincerity that God requires.

2. Luke 18:9-14 : In the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, Jesus contrasts the self-righteous prayer of a Pharisee with the humble plea of a tax collector. The Pharisee prays, "God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire." In contrast, the tax collector prays, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner." Jesus concludes that the tax collector, not the Pharisee, went home justified before God.

This parable illustrates the Pharisees' self-righteousness and lack of repentance, which hinder their prayers from being answered.

3. John 9:31 : In the account of the healing of the man born blind, the man testifies, "We know that God does not listen to sinners, but He does listen to the one who worships Him and does His will." This statement, though not directly from Jesus, reflects a biblical principle that God is attentive to the prayers of those who are righteous and obedient.

The Pharisees, by rejecting Jesus and failing to do God's will, place themselves in a position where their prayers are not heard.

Theological Implications

The refusal of the Pharisees' prayers serves as a cautionary example of how pride, self-righteousness, and a lack of genuine faith can hinder one's relationship with God. The New Testament emphasizes that God desires a humble and contrite heart, as seen in Psalm 51:17 : "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

The Pharisees' failure to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and their reliance on their own righteousness rather than God's grace ultimately led to their prayers being ineffective. This underscores the importance of approaching God with humility, sincerity, and faith in Christ, who is the mediator between God and humanity (1 Timothy 2:5).

Conclusion

The refusal of the Pharisees' prayers is a testament to the necessity of aligning one's heart with God's will and approaching Him with genuine faith and humility. Their example serves as a reminder that outward religiosity without inward transformation is insufficient in the eyes of God.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 23:14
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayer: therefore you shall receive the greater damnation.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The vineyard and Its Keepers
... marriage of the king's son; the three answers to the ... stimulus of prophetic appeals,
to honest refusal, and from ... Did He not Himself ground His prayer for their ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture b/the vineyard and its keepers.htm

The Gospel Supper
... But the excuses they made, rendered their refusal inexcusable. ... and such were the
excuses, and answers, that were ... We must spread the case before him in prayer. ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the gospel supper.htm

Acts XVI
... We can now account for Paul's stern refusal to circumcise ... been wont to repair to
this river-bank for prayer. ... He answers the prayers of the unconverted, not by ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xvi.htm

The Education of the World.
... how he is to sit, stand, eat, drink, what answers he is ... others which go not out but
by (not prayer only, but ... that they finally take refuge in a refusal to think ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/the education of the world.htm

Acts IX
... Moreover, his refusal to tell Saul his appointed duty ... of Scripture in reference to
the answer of prayer. ... give to mourners seeking salvation the answers given by ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts ix.htm

The Paschal Supper - the Institution of the Lord's Supper.
... Church was at first wont to gather for common prayer? ... him part in Christ, but that
the refusal to submit ... the Liturgy proceeds to give full answers as regards ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter x the paschal supper.htm

Penitence, as Explained in the Sophistical Jargon of the Schoolmen ...
... Objection to confession and public prayer. ... Consequence of these answers. ... that are
bound;" "to comfort all that mourn." [336] Hence the Pharisees were excluded ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 4 penitence as explained.htm

The Historical Books. 1 the New Testament...
... good, and spell, history or tidings) answers to the ... oil, whence he escaped unhurt;
his refusal to remain ... actively and successfully employed in prayer and the ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter xxix the historical books.htm

Crucified, Dead, and Buried. '
... And the description of the locality answers all requirements ... It was like His former
refusal of the pity of the ... not only the comfort that his prayer was answered ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xv crucified dead and.htm

Conclusion --Repent Ye, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand.
... "Since the existing order is immutable," they say, "the refusal of a ... The drift of
the timid answers I received to this question was always approximately this ...
/.../the kingdom of god is within you/chapter xii conclusionrepent ye for.htm