Faith Journey on Paul

Continuing in the Beth Moore study of “To Live as Christ,” I read in chapter four and restate in the following narrative how the Pharisees were Strangled by the Law.

“If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee;…as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.” (Philippians 3:4-6) Saul, though a contemporary of Jesus, probably completed his education in Jerusalem and then headed back to Tarsus for a time as Teacher of the Law, while John the Baptist was “preparing the way” for Christ who would have taught in the same assemblies where Saul had been.

And, while teaching there, Jesus would have stood before many who influenced Paul. Though he experienced such positive influences as the renowned and godly Gamaliel, unfortunately the Pharisees and the members of the Sanhedrin, those whom Christ had confronted, would have been among Saul’s instructors and classmates. The Pharisees, originally were referred to as those of genuine piety and devotion to God and while exceptions did exist amongst the religious group, moreover they had already become more accurately perceived for hypocrisy and cynicism.

From Matthew 23, Beth shared what this hypocrisy looked like. In verse four, their behavior was demanding more from others than they expected from themselves. Next, in verse five, there religious actions were insincere and were used to impress those around them. In verse six, we learn how they loved to be the center of attention. Then, in verse thirteen their hypocrisy would keep them from entering the kingdom and how they sought to prevent others from entering as well.

In summary true, godly people will courageously seek the spotlight that reveals their weaknesses, their sin. This light like a laser performing heart surgery will probe but will also strengthen those who demonstrate such humility. And just when one is tempted to pull back because of their own striking resemblance to the Pharisee, we read in Matthew 23:37 Jesus’ cry to draw back even those whose sin is self-righteousness. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing”. We see his love for them in spite of their sin. As it says in Romans 5:8, “while we were yet sinners, He died for us,” and in Ephesians 3:18 we are asked whether we will ever be able “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”

Beth reflects that perhaps, Saul began with innocence from his upbringing in Tarsus and upon arriving in Jerusalem. He was not naive in the sense of worldliness for he was raised in the heart of a secular, Roman society. Rather, perhaps he was innocent of the hypocritical, religious frauds that he would grow to emulate. And, the law that soon became his god came from removing the love from obedience.

And, then we learn about the concept of "identity boundaries" where we as humans cloister together separating ourselves from those who are different. The Pharisees had become so focused on their own agendas that they had forgotten their main objective, to love and worship God.

It is for this reason that caused Saul so much misery. He had passionately become a persecutor of the church. I can’t help but to think of times when the church, the human element, fails; and there is reason to passionately pursue change. But to persecute… to tear down, rather than to dive in, surrendering our own pride, and love one another, spur on one another, confront graciously and assertively; and ultimately to seek joy, peace, and His lost sheep for the kingdom. Perhaps, one of Satan’s greatest feats is when he distracts us as Christians by dividing us so that we are ineffective for the primary purpose of building up the kingdom. We know he was miserable from what we read in Philippians 4:6 when he followed the law without fault.

The Jewish people, with their daily and Sabbath rituals, were “strangled by the law.” According to Isaiah 29:13, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” And, again before we allow ourselves to become crippled by our own inadequacies and similarities, thus resembling “modern-day Pharisees;” let us hear His cry “to give us hearts of devotion, not heads full of religion.”