In today’s world it is acceptable to bash on “Pharisees.” It can even be cool and hip.
But as readers can tell from my earlier post titled “Are you a Pharisaical anti-Pharisee?” I am concerned for the direction and outcome of those who can be so zealous for attacking others as “Pharisees.” With the previous post I specifically addressed how some who oppose “Pharisees” (whether real or imagined) can hypocritically and ironically be quite Pharisaical themselves. In this current post I want to address another issue concerning the direction of those who are zealous in opposing “Pharisees.”
Please note that in the previous and this post I am not defending Pharisees or Phariseeism (what I mean by that is the idea that we can be self-righteous before God by our own works and that we can add more laws more higher than God’s laws). Instead my intention is to point out possible blind-spots we can have of our own self in opposing Pharisees. So here goes my second post…
In opposing Pharisees, please do not become a Sadducee.
What do I mean by Sadducee? We need to take a stepback and consider who the Sadducees were during Jesus’ day. Sadducees was one of the religious groups of the time. According to the Bible in Matthew 22:23, Mark 12:18-27 and Acts 23:8 Sadducees were known for their denial of the resurrection of the dead. Acts 23:8 goes further to tell us that they also denied the existence of angels and spirit. The passage also contrasted Sadducees with Pharisees in that the Pharisees believed in those things in which the Sadducees denied.
One can see from the above that Sadducees denies doctrines that are clearly biblical. If we see any modern examples of Sadducees today they would be similar to the theological liberals who have a low view of God’s Word, denies what God teaches in His Words, etc.
Yet both Pharisees and Sadducees opposed Jesus. And Jesus in opposing the Pharisees never became a Sadducees or vice versa.
Let this be a lesson for all as well: That in opposing Pharisees, please do not become a Sadducee.
Sadly we see that all over the internet today people have done exactly that. How many who left some kind of church movements or church sub-culture that they dismiss as being Pharisaical ended up going further to deny sound biblical doctrines. They have swung the theological pendulum instead of coming to Jesus Christ who is the source of both grace and truth. The Pharisees are known for not having grace. The Sadducees are known for not embracing truth. But in actually the Pharisees and Sadducees are bickering cousins, for they are two different forms of unbelief. Turn to Jesus as revealed in the Bible for the truth and for grace.
The Domain for Truth 
I appreciate these thought provoking convicting exhortations that lead to self examination. Jesus is THE TRUTH. Failing to defend the truth is failing to defend Jesus. The proper walk is to have both a true heart that is inseparable from having a doctrinally true faith. John the baptist had no problem publicly exposing false teachers and practitioners. Jesus said of him that no one born of a woman was greater than John. What He say of us on judgment day?Jesus whom we obey, if we truly love Him, even more so publicly denounced these wolves in sheeps clothing. The Apostle Paul in his epistles named names and exposed their sinful ways repeatedly. The, “woe unto you”, OT prophets were intense and inspired attackers of false teachers and false hearts.
Pastors must do likewise. The false converts the Sadducees the Pharisees the goats and this world will resent you will hate you and will attack you. Teachers are held to a higher standard. Teachers will be judged more harshly. Woe unto all who do not protect Gods flock, under your care, from false teachers and teachings. We are all called to BOLDLY DEFEND THE FAITH.
Sound doctrine can never be inculcated into the flock by the lecture method. Sermons just wont cut it anymore. For example, can your typical member stand and deliver the 5 Solas with detailed explanation of each one with ease? if not why not? Because lectures (sermons) alone cannot produce such results.
All save 3 forsook Jesus. It wont be easy. Denying ourselves and picking up our crosses never was meant to be easy.
Thank you for your comments brother. As I read your comment I thought of how much we need God’s grace to continue being faithful in our walk with Jesus!
Reblogged this on Talmidimblogging.
Thank you Vincent for the reblog!
Yankee Whiskey Bravo 😁
Thanks, Jim. Yes, the Pharisees and Sadducees are alive today in the forms of unbelieving (c)hristian conservatives and liberals. And also believing fellowships lean toward either legalism or doctrinal disregard. Jesus was “full of grace and truth” and we should follow His example.
It is as you said, “the Pharisees and Sadducees are alive today in the forms of unbelieving (c)hristian conservatives and liberals.” It is with them in mind that I am trying to write these post out of love that drives my desire to see them get saved by the blood of Jesus. And for us Christians we must be like Jesus: “Full of grace and truth.” I’m praying both your blog and my blog will be used by the Lord to plant seeds with those who are lost…
The Sadducees were convinced that they would be right with God so long as the Temple stood and the required sacrifices continued. Therefore many of the priests were Sadducees. They took seriously any threat to the Temple, including those they perceived from Jesus and from Paul. Of course, when the Romans attacked and the Temple was destroyed, no hope was left for the Sadducees. Meanwhile, the Pharisees had focused on living a holy life in the home. Their approach remains to this day in Talmidic Judaism. J.
Good overview of the history of the two and what happened after 70 AD with the temple destruction. Thanks!
So true brother Jim. I see many, including some I count as friends, very quick to judge and condemn what they call “fundamentalism,” as if that is some sort of curse word. We are rigid and have gotten God pegged all wrong(that is what they say.) All I see is that doing that puts chinks in the armor God has given them, and they get drug into bizarre debates trying to defend a faith which is slippery and elusive. On the other hand, if one just sticks to the facts as presented, without trying to make God look all warm and fuzzy, then those particular haters really can’t say much.
Good observation Wally, I see that among some people I know or are on social media and blogospheres too
Well said. Jesus is the way.
[…] extreme we often be imbalance and become the opposite other extreme. Last week I wrote, “In opposing Pharisees, do not become a Sadducee.” I also want to address the opposite problem: In opposing Sadducees we can become a […]
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I think when people call others “Pharisee” they are often responding to judgmental, controlling behavior and that accusation often comes from judgmental, controlling behavior. It’s also, really easy to go from being a Christian, intent upon emulating Christ, to a Churchian and fall into the trap of trying to meet the outward expectations of our particular denomination, while neglecting the real work God wants to accomplish inwardly. Trying to achieve perfection through the practice of religion is enough to make anyone judgmental and controlling. It’s also, easy when one has been hurt by this kind of behavior to go too far the other way and become licentious. “Liberals” may tolerate loose doctrine but are still controlling and judgmental of those outside their group. Whatever labels we place on each other, we are all prone to the same kind of sins. Christ is the key to balance between the two but sadly, focus on Jesus is hard for us to maintain because we are so apt to deceive ourselves.
Pam indeed Christ is the only we can be balanced between those two harmful extreme! I hope you are having a blessed day and that the weather isn’t too bad in affecting your health.
I do feel the drop in temperature and the low pressure but I’m managing. At least, I’m pretty sure my blood isn’t turning to jello so, it’s not quite so scary, just painful. I think it is probably small vessel atherosclerosis which is pretty common for little old ladies. Thank you for always thinking of me. God bless and keep you, Jim and may the love of Christ keep you balanced in life and in your ministry, always.
You need to stock up on Bibles and Bible books. Do not let what’s happen in Afghanistan happen to you.
Serious question: what do you legitimately call calvinism? Biblicalism? Doctrines of Grace? Sovereign grace? TULIP?