The Following comes from FMM's Advice for Young Ministers Website at: https://sites.google.com/site/adviceforyoungministers/articles/gaurd-your-heart-against-what-jesus-taught-about-pariseeism
Gaurd your Heart against what Jesus taught about Pariseeism
LESSON 1
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you. 42 But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Luke 11:41-42 (KJV)
It is Right to Obey to the Last Letter, It is Wrong to Neglect Love and Justice
The Pharisees’ error was not that they obeyed to the letter in tithing their smallest garden herbs. No, there error was that they neglected God’s judgment and love. They were hypocrites who loved themselves and created rules and followed teachers who said what their own itching ears wanted to hear. They followed the traditions of rabbis (of men) rather than God. In short, they justified their disobedience by creating a “way” that justified their actions, decisions, and lifestyle. They claimed holiness, but were far from holy.
Little is said anymore about holiness and obeying even the least of the commands of the Word of God, yet Jesus said:
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 5:19 (KJV)
But right after Jesus says that, the next verse in fact, he addresses the issue of phariseeism:
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.
Matt 5:20 (KJV)
Earlier on Jesus said:
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Matt 5:17-18 (KJV)
Jesus is not saying to not obey the Word of God because he brought us grace through His death. No, Jesus is saying be faithful to the very last detail, but don’t neglect justice and the love of God. Keep your heart from phariseeism. Be attentive to the Lord and discerning by the Holy Spirit of God which raised Christ from the dead and lives within Christ’s disciples to see the love of God in people. Don’t discount the passionate heart of the new Christian who loves Christ and yet does not yet know His commands. Love the person and take time to teach them what Jesus taught (that = discipleship, Matt 28:19-20). Yet, also do not neglect justice. Paul taught very clearly that disorderly believers (2 Thess 3:6, 1 Cor 5) should be put out from the church if they did not repent after following Christ’s three time teaching (Matthew 18:15-35). Now, we are to forgive all men as Christ did; however, we are to hate the deeds of evil and to act justly as far as depends on us (Ex 18:21-23). Love God and do justice as well as being faithfully obedient in the littlest details.
LIVE UP TO WHAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S WORD THAT YOU HAVE ATTAINED
Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
Phil 3:15-16 (KJV)
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