Luke 12:1-2 Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2 There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.
In our study of Jesus’ confrontations with the Pharisees, we have looked at four specific conflicts. In Matthew 9:10-13 we see the Pharisees confront Jesus over dining with tax collectors and sinners, to which Jesus replies “It is not the healthywho need a doctor, but the sick” (Matthew 9:12). In Matthew 12:1-14 the Pharisees challenge Jesus about working on the Sabbath, to which Jesus responds: “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:8). In Matthew 15 the Pharisees confront Jesus and his disciples over the issue of ceremonial washing and Jesus counters with what truly makes a person clean or unclean: “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. Matthew 15:17-18. Finally, two weeks ago, we looked at the confrontation over the issue of divorce in Matthew 19:1-9 and how the Pharisees sought to justify their sinful behavior and Jesus showed them their fault and God’s true intent regarding marriage.
Throughout these confrontations, Jesus has exposed the Pharisees as self-righteous, condescending, power hungry, jealous hypocrites that are more concerned with their way of doing things than God’s truth. This Wednesday, we will look at Matthew 22 as Jesus faces his final three confrontations with the religious leaders.
Look forward to seeing everyone,
In Christ,
Gary T. and family