The Life of the Pharisees
My dear friends, the pharisees are very popular in the gospels. They always encounter Jesus because their lifestyles are opposed to the authentic teachings of Christ in the gospel. The pharisees are the influential, respected, and great teachers of the law among the Jews. But, they do not practice what they preach and teach. They are popularly known for their hypocrisy, pretense, and insincerity. Preference for the culture and tradition of their land to their effects on men and the reality of true living is found.
They are obsessed with religious rules and regulations but not the true love and principles of the gospel which are based on sincerity, integrity, and justice for all. Their interests lie more on public recognition, admiration, and accolades they receive as the best keepers and observers of the law, but invariably, they are the worst in character and moral life as they do not live an inch of what they preach. They deceive themselves and those around them. As such, Jesus could not tolerate their hypocrisy and would always confront them and call them to repentance.
Jesus’ Anger Over Hypocrisy
Jesus speaks today in strong terms against the Scribes and Pharisees for their double standard life, the life of hypocrisy, pretense, and insincerity. He warns them and their likes, who are interested only in their outward desire for visibility and praise. They pay their tithe of mint and are acclaimed as the best keepers of the law, but their hearts are very far from God. These people clean the outside of cup and dish and leave the inside full of extortion. They neglect weightier matters of the law of justice, mercy, and good faith, and never care about them. That is what Jesus condemns. He confronts this type of lifestyle which is still very common among us.
In our own time, many in our communities still make donations to churches and to charities to be seen and praised while they grudge within themselves. Many volunteer to help in charity homes and other institutions to be seen, but their hearts are very far from what they are doing. Others run charities not to alleviate and support the poor for the sake of Christ but for worldly popularity and underneath intention. They lack the sincerity of purpose, justice, and mercy. Their ambition and intentions are very far from their conviction of service to God and humanity. This insincerity and deception are what Jesus vehemently condemns in the gospel of today by calling them hypocrites and blind guides.
Blind Guides
‘Blind guides’ is a popular expression in different cultures. It can refer to those who have physical eye challenge or impairment. As such, they are not expected to lead themselves lest they fall into the same pitch because of their impairment. But the true meaning of ‘blind guides’ refers to the ignorance of those who claim to know but are empty. The pharisees claim to know and teach the law but they are totally ignorant of the real spirit of the law. They totally miss the mark, the real issues that matter. And that is the reason behind their cleaning the outer part of their cups instead of the inside. Hence, Jesus condemns them and calls on them to do the right thing.
Clean the inside of the Cup
Jesus calls on the pharisees and indeed on all Christians to be sincere in their lives and actions. This is because God looks at the heart and not outward appearance. He implores the pharisees to clean the inside of the cup first so that the outside may become clean. This is because the cleanliness of the heart, the good intention that is not seen by anyone except God, is what matters and that is what God rewards. The weightier matters of the law of justice, mercy and good faith is what pleases God. That is what Jesus wants us to acquire as his followers and contemporary disciples. We, therefore, must strive to possess good intentions in our works of charity, service to God, and humanity.
Peace be with you.
