Religion of Appearances: The Pharisees' Emphasis on Outward Show
When Observance of the Law Trumped True Communion with God
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20.
They Didn’t Practice What They Preached
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Matthew 23:1–4.
In their grandiose speeches, the Pharisees often commanded others to follow the law, yet they would not lift a finger to help. They would publicly shame those who were not adhering to the law while they were secretly breaking it. These religious leaders were the epitome of hypocrisy. They maintained a facade of righteousness, keeping their true selves hidden from the public eye.
They demanded unwavering obedience, expecting everyone to acknowledge their superior spirituality. However, their stringent rules and expectations drained the joy of serving God, turning it into a heavy burden that the people had to bear rather than a source of fulfillment.
They preached generosity, but were often selfish and greedy. While emphasizing the significance of humility, they paradoxically showcased pride and arrogance. They taught about the value of forgiveness, but held grudges and sought revenge. While they stressed the importance of love, their actions revealed little compassion for others. They advocated for justice but showed favoritism and unfairness.
They preached about the importance of purity but were often corrupt in their actions. Despite speaking about the need for truth, they were deceitful and dishonest. They preached about idolatry’s dangers but worshipped wealth and power. While emphasizing the importance of obedience, they failed to follow God’s commands. They preached about the need for righteousness, but were often corrupt and morally compromised.
Their Desire for Recognition Overshadowed Genuine Devotion
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. Matthew 23:5–7.
They performed charity, prayer, and other religious duties to gain public recognition. Their expectation was not to serve but to be honored and respected. They sought the best seats to acknowledge themselves as men of God publicly.
Pride has taken the place of humility. They are not looking to serve, but to be served. They insist on being explicitly treated. Typically, they expect your obedience, even without comprehension. They expect no one to call their hand at anything. They are big on being called by their titles.
They acted super spiritual, which only masked a lack of true devotion and sincerity. Their actions were superficial, aimed at impressing others rather than pleasing God.
How hungry they were to be admired, praised, and acknowledged.
They Were More Worried about Little Stuff
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Matthew 23:23–24.
Minor details were more important to them than the profound essentials of the faith. They neglected, ignored, or spoke less of the weightier or more profound subjects of the Word of God.
Instead of focusing on the truth, their primary concern was their traditions and rituals. They focused more on the outward actions than the heart motives. They focused on the letter rather than the spirit of the law.
Their ministry was not about a genuine relationship with God but religious duty. They did not prioritize love for God above everything else.
They did not focus on the heart, but on external behaviors. Compassion, mercy, and grace were far from them. They focused on having a judging, critical, condemning, and accusing ministry.
The fact that they obeyed all the external rules gave them a sense of pride and exclusivity. They were better than others. They were far more about the rules than freedom.
External versus Internal
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Matthew 23:27–28.
The Pharisees focused excessively on external righteousness and neglected the internal transformation of the heart. They meticulously followed the letter of the law and religious rituals, but lacked genuine love for God and others. Their righteousness was for its own sake rather than flowing from a transformed heart.
A desire for attention, honor, and status rather than sincere devotion to God motivated them. They loved being greeted with respect and having the best seats to be seen by others.
They showed piety through external acts and still filled their hearts with greed and self-indulgence. Jesus likened them to cups that were clean on the outside but filthy within.
They neglected the weightier matters of justice, mercy, and faithfulness while meticulously following minor rules like tithing spices. Their focus was on external conformity rather than internal righteousness.
Their external righteousness excluded others and created boundary markers rather than truly following God’s desire for holiness and love. They used the law legalistically to control people rather than for spiritual transformation.
The Pharisees reduced religion to external rules and appearances while neglecting the internal condition of their hearts before God. Jesus condemned this hypocrisy and called them to genuine repentance and inner cleansing.