Who were the Pharisees?
The Pharisees were a very strict Jewish religious sect, often mentioned in the New Testament, who tried to apply the Torah (Jewish Law) and their own law and traditions to everyday life. They commanded much respect and exercised a great deal of power over the common people but were often condemned by Jesus Christ our Lord.
The Pharisees knew the law and rules of The Book well, seen Jesus Christ do miracles, heard Him preach but failed to see or know The Savior! The Pharisees kept the law to the dot and couldn't see beyond beyond law technicalities.
When Jesus walked this earth, He ate with sinners.
Matthew 9:10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.
11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?"
12 On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."
The Pharisees had no room for love, compassion nor were needs of people important to them.
But Jesus Christ looked beyond that at the need of the people. His heart was moved with compassion.
Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grain fields on the Sabbath. And His disciples were hungry, and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. 2 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath!”
3 But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and ate the showbread which was not lawful for him to eat, nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? 5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless? 6 Yet I say to you that in this place there is One greater than the temple. 7 But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
9 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. 10 And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.
11 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.
The May we be imitators of our Lord Jesus Christ.
May our hearts be filled with His compassion and love.
Julia
#Pharisees #JesusChrist #Compassion #Love
No comments:
Post a Comment