Luke 11:29-54 What Was Wrong With The Pharisees And Scribes

At this stage in Christ’s ministry, the religious leaders were bent on destroying Him.  Still, Jesus agreed to eat with a Pharisee, knowing what he was thinking.  “The Pharisees thought righteousness was only a matter of external actions … they ignored the wickedness within,” which people couldn’t see.  My commentary nailed it:  “The way to clean up a dirty vocabulary is not to brush your teeth but to cleanse your heart.”

“Jesus denounced their wrong priorities.  They majored on the minors … They also put reputation above character.  Reputation is what people think we are; character is what God knows we are.”

“The Pharisees were like unmarked graves … they were unconsciously defiling others, when they thought they were helping them become holier!”

“The scribes were good at adding to the burdens of the people, but they had no heart for helping them carry those burdens … The scribes were also good at embalming the past and honoring the prophets who had been martyred by the religious establishment to which they belonged!”

“Finally, the scribes were guilty of robbing the common people of the knowledge of the Word of God… Unfortunately what some people call Bible study today is too often just a group of unprepared people exchanging their ignorance.”

Father, thank You for Your warnings to teachers of Your Word.  Help me to teach only Your truth.  Don’t let me fail to keep my character in line with Your Word.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford