The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses; therefore all that they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds; for they say things and do not do them. —Jesus (Matthew 23:2-3)
During the earthly life of Christ, the Pharisees were a strict religious sect known for their public displays of religious acts, such as wearing showy garments, fastidiously washing hands, and giving alms and praying in front of others.
Today, the term “Pharisee” is synonymous with “hypocrite” because Jesus said the Pharisees didn’t actually practice what they preached (Matt. 23:3). They focused on the minute aspects of God’s Law but neglected the larger matters of “justice, mercy, and faithfulness” (v. 23).
In a similar vein, those who scream the loudest about “injustice” are selective in their outrage. They are quick to criticize all the perceived injustices in America, but when confronted with far greater injustices abroad, say in China, they remain silent. Pro basketball star LeBron James recently exemplified this.
This weekend on The Christian Worldview, we’ll discuss the importance for Christians to be consistent with what we preach and practice. Greg Koukl, president of Stand to Reason, will also join us to discuss how to have meaningful discussions with non-believers.
UPCOMING STUDENT EVENT:
Stand to Reason will be hosting the reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference on Nov. 8-9 at Grace Church Eden Prairie, MN. More details here.
