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Mon 9 Jan, 2006 11:19 pm
Please let me say before this gets started that this thread is in no way meant to be an open forum for attacking christians or what they believe.
I would appreciate it if we could keep it that way.
My question is this: What was it that separated the pharisees from those who followed Jesus? (not stating the obvious, that they didn't believe He was the Messiah)
I think the pharisees were more concerned with how "holy" they looked. They didn't seem to understand that following the letter of the law didn't necessarily mean they were following Jesus.
It's not about being better than anyone else. It's about each of us being better than what we used to be.
I think it's very easy to fall into the category of being a hypocrite. If, just one time, we point our finger at someone else for something they have done wrong, we are wrong ourselves because none of us are without sin. Unfortunately, human pride can get in the way and is a great deceiver.
The pharisees were extreme cases of this. They just didn't see it. Today, I think they call it denial.
They (IMO) didn't think God's rules were enough, so they started adding their own--pretty soon, the sick, and poor were too gross to come in a church, and were relegated to living in the outskirts, unable to take part in rituals they felt were required for staying in God's grace.
They hoarded the money made in the temple from sacrifices they deemed necessary.
They mistook themselves for God.
A true Christian has a service mentality. A Pharisaical-type has a God complex. A person can fluctuate between the two. Warding off the God thing is a daily struggle.
Love,
God
Hephzibah,
Meet Lady Lash. Lady Lash, meet Hephzibah. I know you two will really like each other.
Great topic Hephzibah!
Hi.
So, what do YOU think, hep?
The explanation Jesus gave in the book of Matthew:
Quote:A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
Oh I have many thoughts on this. I need to wait before I give my input though. Don't worry, it's coming soon.
The Pharisees were very vocal critics of Jesus. They insisted on observing their rituals to the letter rather than the spirit of the law. This brought strong denunciation by Jesus.
They did believe in resurrection and the like, but were their own special sect unto themselves. They were not poor like so many others and this seemed to be important to them.
Jesus was in the tradition of Moses. He reproached unbelieving Jews: " If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me." (John 5:24-27)
Jesus reviled the Pharisees as "hypocrites" and a "generation of vipers." He said they nullified God's Commandments "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Mark 7:13)
Not being smug, but the Pharisees would probably equate to what we consider the practice of fundamentalism today. Extremists who created doctrine as law in the name of God.
I would also add that Saul/Paul, as a Pharisee, continued the tradition as he created doctrine/law for Christianity as he spread his own word to the gentiles.
J_B wrote:Not being smug, but the Pharisees would probably equate to what we consider the practice of fundamentalism today. Extremists who created doctrine as law in the name of God.
I can agree with that.
I want to make sure I'm understanding you right JB. Do you mean that Paul experienced no life change, but was merely using belief in Jesus as a cloak to promote the pharisees doctrine?
No, I don't think Paul was promoting pharisee doctrine. I think he was promoting Paul's doctrine.
husker wrote:Jesus' doctrine
Ironically, Jesus was dead at the time Paul was writing this.
Ironically, Jesus has been dead for how many years? Yet, His message continues. :wink:
Momma Angel wrote:Ironically, Jesus has been dead for how many years? Yet, His message continues. :wink:
Yes, well the debateable word in your sentence there being 'His'.
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