How not to be a Pharisee

Oftentimes, we mistakenly read the Bible based on the little titles above the stories. Did you know that the Bible on its own did not create those little titles? Nor is it broken down into clean sections. One of the benefits of writing is learning how to read in such a way that I care not only about the story, because let’s be honest, that’s usually how I read in the past, but also to know the intent of the author. What does the author really want us to know? I think that’s an important way to learn to read Scripture. What did the original author intend to convey? and what does God intend to convey? The Bible is its own commentary. {I realize that this post reads differently than others in the series, and we are just gonna go with it today.}

The writers of the New Testament letters, for example, take the words of Jesus and explain them into something more for the churches they are writing to and for us today.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those of us in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:1-2

Sometimes when Scripture contradicts, it is because one section is explaining the other.

I really want you to peruse Luke 6:27-49. If you have to, skim it even looking at the headings to find out what each section is about. I like the link I attached because it reads like a story without headings, and that’s how it should be read. I’ll be right here, no worries.

So much of what Jesus is teaching in this passage is how not to be a Pharisee. His approach to teach his disciples (and I mean the broad use of that meaning “learners”) how not to be a Pharisee teaches them how to be like Him in a practical way, while still probing the heart of the Pharisee himself.

“Count on this: no good tree bears bad fruit, and no bad tree bears good fruit. You can know a tree by the fruit it bears. You don’t find figs on a thorn bush, and you can’t pick grapes from a briar bush. It’s the same with people. A person full of goodness in his heart produces good things; a person with an evil reservoir in his heart pours out evil things. The heart overflows in the words a person speaks; your words reveal what’s within your heart.” Luke 6:43-45, The Voice

I like this passage because it builds upon the theme of heart caverns that we are exploring while Seeking Jesus. I think sometimes we read this passage standing alone, and it can bring condemnation. I don’t know if I am alone, but sometimes I speak goodness, and sometimes I don’t. Reading this within context though, I see that I am to love my enemies, I am not to judge others, I am to check my own heart first, I am to speak life, and then I am to practice the Lord’s teachings.

The little parable above on the good fruit and bad fruit intends to teach you to practice speaking life and to recognize that we are all evil.

James expounds on this parable in James 3 – again it should be read without the headings causing you to stop in one place before he is really finished with a thought:

“But no man has ever demonstrated the ability to tame his own tongue! It is a spring of restless evil, brimming with toxic poisons. Ironically this same tongue can be both an instrument of blessing to our Lord and Father and a weapon that hurls curses upon others who are created in God’s own image. One mouth streams forth both blessings and curses. My brothers and sisters, this is not how it should be. Does a spring gush crystal clear freshwater and moments later spurt out bitter salt water? My brothers and sisters, does a fig tree produce olives? Is there a grapevine capable of growing figs? Can salt water give way to freshwater?

Who in your community is understanding and wise? Let his example, which is marked by wisdom and gentleness, blaze a trail for others. If your heart is one that bleeds dark streams of jealousy and selfishness, do not be so proud that you ignore your depraved state. The wisdom of this world should never be mistaken for heavenly wisdom; it originates below in the earthly realms, with the demons. Any place where you find jealousy and selfish ambition, you will discover chaos and evil thriving under its rule. Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted by hypocrisy. The seed that flowers into righteousness will always be planted in peace by those who embrace peace.” James 3:8-18

As you can see, James references the plants bearing good or bad fruit as Jesus did, but in reference to the tongue. So often we stop there, but he goes on to talk about the heart and wisdom. Yes, we all at times use the tongue for evil, but there is no condemnation in Christ, yet, we cannot be so proud that we ignore the depraved state our hearts are in when we see it producing chaos. We must seek to allow Christ to rule and clean out our hearts, so that we practice His teachings and continue becoming more like Him.

This is one in a 31 day series of Seeking Jesus. If you’d like to keep up with each post in this series, subscribe here.