7/15/2018
The Yeast of The Pharisees
Matthew 16:6 Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
Their Interpretations of God’s Laws Nullified Them Through Manmade Tradition
Matthew 15:3-6 He answered them, “Why do you transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father & your mother’ & ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ But you say, “Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God” You have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Pharisaical Doctrines Lead To Empty Worship
Matthew 15:7-9 Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth & honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. In vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'”
They Impose Their Belief’s On Others
Matthew 23:4-10 They tie up heavy loads & put them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them…
They Nit Pick Small Matters & Neglect Important Ones
Matthew 23:23-24 Woe to you, teachers of the law & Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill & cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy & faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
They Love Religious Showmanship
Matthew 23:5-7 Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide & the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets & the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces & to have men call them ‘Rabbi.’
Matthew 23:8-10
They Use Religion To Make Themselves Rich
Matt 23:14 Woe to you, scribes & Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses & for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
They Add Religious Works To Salvation
Acts 15:1-2 Some men came down from Judea to Antioch & were teaching the brothers: “Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved.” This brought Paul & Barnabas into sharp dispute & debate with them. So Paul & Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.
They Demand That Others Adhere To Religious Law
Acts 15:4-6 When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church & the apostles & elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up & said, “The Gentiles must be circumcised & required to obey the law of Moses.” The apostles & elders met to consider this question.
Legalists Harassed Paul Until His Death
2nd Corinthians 11:22-26 I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, & been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night & a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen…
Law vs Grace Has Always Been Divisive
Acts 21:17-21 …Paul & the rest of us went to see James, & all the elders were present. Paul greeted them & reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, & all of them are zealous for the law. They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs…
The Messengers of Grace Are Always Persecuted
Acts 21:27-31 …the Jews which were of Asia, when they saw Paul in the temple, stirred up all the people & laid hands on him crying out Men of Israel, help! This is the man that teaches all men every where against the people & the law & this place: he brought Greeks into the temple & hath polluted this holy place! All the city was moved & the people ran together: they took Paul, & drew him out of the temple: forthwith the doors were shut. And they went about to kill him…
Grievous Wolves Attack The Simplicity of Grace
Acts 20:28-30 Take heed therefore unto yourselves & to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which He hath purchased with His Own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after themselves.
The First Church Council Confirmed Faith In Jesus Alone Saves
Acts 15:10-11 …why do you test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. (Peter)
Ephesians 2:8-9