Jesus and the Pharisees - Part 1 - Introduction

Sometimes in the course of studying for something, you discover something else.  Recently I have been looking at Nicodemus in John 3:1-21 and elsewhere to get ready for a dramatic presentation and I have run smack dab into the middle of the whole dispute between Jesus and the Pharisees about self-righteousness.  It is not only a heated debate but it encompasses so many subjects that I am certain it can be only covered in a series of articles.

Self-righteousness is one of the most insidious spiritual conditions because not only do you think you do not have it; you will also fight those who point it out to you.  It means that you cannot see your spiritual reality at all.  It is one of the most deadly spiritual conditions and one of the most prevalent.

The more I look at the church of Jesus Christ, particularly in the good ole' United States of America, the more I am convinced that the reason it is struggling in a classic case of self righteousness.  We condemn the world and exalt ourselves.  We impose our moral codes on others without doing them ourselves.  We find all manners of way to get in people's face about how sinful they are, while all the while sinning ourselves. 

For me, this enlightenment has been a long journey, but as I look through the Bible at the conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees, I now realize that conflict would take place today but it would be between the church and Jesus.  Bold words I suppose.  I plan to back them up in this series.

In this series I will do what I always do.  First, I will observe the conflict between the Pharisees and Jesus.  Secondly, I will offer up some interpretation of what I see in this conflict.  Finally, I will offer up application to our life and world here in the 21st century.

Next: Who Were the Pharisees?