We have four questions here related to Matthew chapter 23:1-3: “Then spoke Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”

Question 1)  What was the standing out character/behavior of the Scribes and Pharisees? 

Hypocrisy.  They excused their sins in many ways- often in very creative ways.  They often adopted man-made doctrines which they used as a substitute for obedience to what God actually commanded.  They were overall forward to say what people ought to do- yet not diligently do it themselves.

Question 2)  Who are the Scribes and Pharisees of our days? 

This is an especially great question.  They surely have not ceased to exist- at least in terms of the characteristics which Jesus rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for.  

Understand though that neither being a Scribe nor a Pharisee was inherently a bad thing.  The Pharisees were a sect which was supposed to be zealous for Biblical holiness.  What they actually became though was typically not what they professed to be.  Likewise with the Scribes, they were supposed to be especially knowledgeable in God’s Law.  That is a good thing if one handles the Law faithfully and does the will of God revealed therein whatever it may cost them.  We need to be zealous to understand and do what the Word of God says; and it is good for someone to be well-learned in the Bible.  

But I think the question is probably aimed at understanding who the people are today that the rebukes which Jesus spoke regarding the Scribes and Pharisees actually apply to in principle.  That is where I’ll go here then.

Consider what God said about the Levitical Priests of the Old Covenant in Malachi 2:4-9 (how they had descended into corruption and God rebuked them for this here): “And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.  My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name.  The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity (from lawlessness).  For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the Lord of hosts.  Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.”

Partiality in the law defines hypocrisy overall.  

How could that look today?  Here are just some examples.

Preachers who preach against immodesty in society while their own wife and/or daughters wear make-up and short skirts.

The person who speaks Biblical precepts about loving your neighbor as yourself who does things like complain and not leave a tip over slight imperfections in the service they receive at restaurants.

The person who is a lot more zealous to pray publicly and/or do other public religious things than they are to be faithful in their duties before God in private.

The person who condemns murder and genocide in some cases yet supports abortion- or vice-versa.

The person who seeks to protect their own friends and family members from the criminal justice system and/or proclaims the innocence of such when an impartial person would know that they are obviously guilty.

The person who seems like a responsible, patient, caring family man or woman in public who becomes short-tempered, hostile, and cold when in private (behind closed doors).

The person who expects accountability from others in ways they are not willing to be accountable themselves.

That is just a handful of a multitude of possible examples to give here.

Consider also how Matthew chapter 23 continues.  

Matthew 23:4-12: “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.  But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries (we’re talking about religious paraphernalia here), and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.  And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.  But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Don’t stop there in the chapter.  Keep reading beyond that.  That sample of how Jesus defined the evil character of the Scribes and Pharisees who were wicked is very telling.  

Unrealistic expectations of others without willingness to share their burden, exaggerated and unnecessary religious attire (and since there is no Levitical Priesthood now all clerical garments are unnecessary and ostentatious), love of prominence at religious gatherings, and taking flattering titles or giving flattering titles to others are all demonstrations of the corrupt ways of the evil Scribes and Pharisees.

Question 3) According to verses 2 and 3, how best can the church listen to what they say and never do what they do? 

There must be many aspects to this, but here are a few key ones.

Be impartial: Don’t excuse evil because of someone’s association to you or their association to someone who is associated with you.  Be ready to lose family and friends over this.  Many become hypocrites who are partial in the law due to their attachment to their race, their political affiliations, their nation (or, some nation),  In the case of many evangelicals now that nation is modern Israel.  They act like the Christ-rejecting Jews now are in a different category than other sinners or even in a different category than the wicked Jews in Bible times.

Another thing.  Receive whatever we hear that is true (whatever is in line with the Word of God)- but don’t follow nor regularly listen to someone after it is clear that there is sin in them which they are committed to and trying to justify (that’s hypocrisy).  

Many go wrong because they discount truth which they have heard after the person they heard it from has allegedly or actually been proven a hypocrite.  Jesus warns us in  Matthew chapter 23 not to discount truth just because it may have been spoken by a hypocrite.

In relation to this question, consider Matthew 2:1-6: “Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews?  for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.  When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.  And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, art not the least among the princes of Judah: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.”

The wise men were obviously scribes in a sense- otherwise they wouldn’t have even recognized the things that they recognized to know that Christ had been born in Judea.  However, the Scribes in Judea who had more precise understanding didn’t act on the knowledge they had.  They did not actually go to Bethlehem when the wise men had recognized His birth and had come from an extremely great distance to worship the King.  In relation to question three then, it’s crucial that we actually act on the knowledge we have- whether that is little or much- in order to avoid the error of the wicked Scribes and Pharisees and do what we ought to do but do not do after their works.

Question 4) According to the New Testament Scriptures, is there anything positive that we can learn from their zealousness to worship God?

Yes, in seeking to be genuinely upright and godly as the Pharisees were supposed to be; and in diligence to understand Biblical wisdom and live in accordance therewith.

The Apostle Paul was a Pharisee who got set straight (and he did not cease to call himself a Pharisee afterwards).  We see that in the following Scripture, along with an example of his diligence to actually live in all good conscience before God.

Acts 23:1-6: “And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day.  And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth.  Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?  And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest?  Then said Paul, I wist not (knew not), brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people (remember, that’s when the High Priest was still a God-ordained position).  But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.”

Ezra in the Old Testament is an example of an honest, diligent, and faithful scribe.  Everyone, but especially those who teach the Bible in any capacity, surely ought to learn from his example.

Ezra 7:10: “For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.”

We’ll close then with Psalm 119:113-120: “I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.  Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word.  Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God.  Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.  Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually.  Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood.  Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies.  My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.”

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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