Foolish Church Members Like the Pharisees

Foolish Church Members Like the Pharisees

 

 

 

 

 

“Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.  Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.  Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it” (Luke 11:42–44).

 

 

 

(1)   As I meditated on today’s passage, Luke 11:42–44, in connection with Luke 11:37–41—which I had already reflected on this past Thursday (devotional title: “Abandon Religious Formalism and Be Cleansed from Within!”)—I decided to title this reflection “Foolish Church Members Like the Pharisees.”  The reason is that both passages deal with the theme of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and are closely connected by the core idea of the inconsistency between the “outside and the inside.”  (Here, “foolish” comes from verse 40, “Pharisees” from verses 42–43, and “church members” is my personal application of this message to myself and believers like me today.)

 

(a)    First, I want to reflect on the word “Pharisees” mentioned in Luke 11:42–43. The Greek word is “Pharisaiois” (Φαρισαίοις).

 

(i)       Etymological Meaning: The name “Pharisee” comes from the Hebrew Perushim, meaning “to separate” (“the separated ones”).  They were a group that sought to maintain holiness by strictly observing the Law and separating themselves from Gentiles or ritually unclean Jews.

 

·        Meaning in Today’s Passage: In Luke 11:42–43, the term symbolizes hypocrisy.  When Jesus says, “Woe to you Pharisees,” He is exposing the following negative spiritual conditions:

 

-        Prioritizing form over substance: They meticulously tithe even tiny herbs like mint and rue, yet neglect the core of faith: justice and love for God.

 

Religious pride seeking human recognition: They delight in places of honor in synagogues and public greetings in marketplaces, revealing a self-centered faith.

 

Corrupt inner life: Though outwardly appearing holy, inwardly they are full of greed and wickedness. Like unmarked graves, they spiritually defile others without even being noticed.

 

Summary: The “Pharisees” in this passage are not merely a Jewish sect, but represent hypocrites—those who are obsessed with outward religious acts and social status rather than a genuine relationship with God (Internet).

 

(i)               “Pharisees” as Hypocrites: The Pharisees were “hypocrites.” What does hypocrisy mean?  In Hebrew, it refers to “one who hides oneself” or “a pretender.” In the New Testament, the term originally described an actor wearing a mask on stage. Later, it came to mean a hypocrite.  It refers especially to those who have the appearance of godliness but lack its power. Outwardly they appear devout, yet inwardly they are filled with falsehood and hypocrisy. In Jesus’ time, the Pharisees were the primary example of such people.

 

·        The Sin of Hypocritical Pharisees: What was their fundamental sin?  In one phrase: they spoke of godliness but did not keep God’s commandments (Yoon-sun Park).  Psalm 50:16 says: “But to the wicked God says: ‘What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips?’”

-      This rebukes those who speak of God’s religion only with their mouths.  Verse 17 continues: “You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you.”  What does this mean?  Hypocritical people hate God’s teaching and throw His Word behind them.

 

·          Is this not also our hypocrisy and sin?  After receiving God’s Word on Sunday, do we not leave the church building only to cast that Word behind us and return to sin in the world?  Why do we push God’s Word aside and live as though it does not matter?

 

-        The Root Cause: John Calvin points out the cause: “The mark of hypocritical religionists is their lack of reverence for the Word of God.”  This lack of reverence for God leads us to hate His Word and cast it behind us, committing sin.

 

(b)   Second, I would like to reflect on the Greek word “ἄφρονες” (aphrones), translated as “foolish ones,” mentioned in Luke 11:40, which we have already meditated on.

 

(i)       Etymological Meaning: This word is composed of the negative prefix “a- (ἀ-)” and “phren (φρήν)”, meaning mind or understanding.  Literally, it means “without understanding” or “without a mind (sense)”.

 

·          It refers to a state lacking spiritual insight, the ability to rightly discern things.

 

(ii)        Specific Meaning in Luke 11:40: Jesus uses this word to address the Pharisees because of their fatal spiritual ignorance.

 

·          Ignorance of the principle of creation: As it says, “Did not He who made the outside make the inside also?”—this rebukes their foolishness in ignoring that God created not only the outward appearance but also the inner being (the heart).

 

·          Reversal of priorities: They devote all their effort to cleaning the outside of the cup (external rituals of purity), while neglecting the inside (the greed and wickedness of the heart), which God truly sees.

·          Spiritual shortsightedness: They cling only to visible religious forms and fail to see the invisible realities of God’s justice and love.

 

(ii)             The “Fool” in the Psalms (Biblical Background): This term is connected to the concept found in Psalm 14:1: “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”  That is, it can refer to a practical atheist—someone who professes to believe in God but lives as though God does not see the heart. 

 

·        Ultimately, the term “foolish ones” (aphrones) in Luke 11:40 is a strong word of warning, rebuking those who may appear outwardly religious but are spiritually blind, having no genuine personal relationship with God.

 

-      Related Scripture: Romans 2:19–24: “You who are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those in the dark… you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? … You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law?  As it is written: ‘God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.’”

 

n  The foolish Pharisees are convinced that they are “guides for the blind” and “lights for those in darkness” (v.19).  Yet they reveal a fatal blind spot: they teach others but do not teach themselves (v.21).  They boast in possessing the Law, but by breaking it, they dishonor God (v.23).

 

#  Their Spiritual Blindness: Their blindness is not merely a lack of knowledge.  It is a condition in which they are so focused on displaying their own righteousness rather than God’s glory that they fail to understand what truly pleases God.

 

-      Matthew 15:14: “Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.”

 

n  These foolish Pharisees, who clean the outside (the cup) but do not know the God who made the inside (the heart), are obsessed with outward traditions (such as ceremonial handwashing).  Meanwhile, they fail to see the evil thoughts that come from within the heart (Mt. 15:19).  Thus, although they consider themselves the most faithful, in Jesus’ eyes they are dangerous guides who have strayed from the path of truth.

 

#   This is a portion of something I wrote on July 21, 2009, after reading an article titled “The Purification of Worship”: “The church buildings of Korean churches are astonishing. But I fear that we, the true church—the believers (both pastors and laypeople)—may be decaying. Especially pastors like myself may be decaying, causing the flock to wander in spiritual hunger and thirst.  Perhaps we have entered an era in which pastors can no longer present a model to the flock.  The reality is that we are being replaced by the model of the Pharisees.  We now live in a time when it is entirely reasonable to hear believers say to their pastors, ‘Why do you keep telling us to do things that you yourselves do not do?’  Pastors have become full—fattening only themselves—while the flock is starving to death.  Yet even in such a situation, what is astonishing is that pastors misuse the spiritual authority given to them by God, leading in an authoritarian manner.  Even more astonishing is that there are countless members of the flock who ‘respect’ (at least outwardly) such authoritarian pastors.  This could be described as the blind leading the blind.  Pharisaic pastors can only produce Pharisaic church members. If this is our condition, then the worship we offer to God is like that described in Isaiah 1:14—worship that God hates and that becomes a burden to Him.”

 

(c)    Third and last, I would like to reflect on what kind of people the foolish Pharisees were who are described as being like “unmarked graves” (Luke 11:44).

 

(i)       In short, Pharisees like “unmarked graves” are fatal hypocrites who appear ordinary on the outside but harbor death (uncleanness) within, thereby defiling others as well. Their specific characteristics are as follows:

          

1.      People with “invisible hypocrisy” (Lk. 11:44)

 

Unmarked graves: In Jewish tradition, graves were whitewashed so people would not touch them. However, an “unmarked grave” has no visible sign, so people walk over it without knowing.

 

Meaning: These individuals appear outwardly devout and holy, leading others to assume that associating with them is spiritually beneficial. Yet in reality, they are in a state of spiritual death.

 

2.      People obsessed with “minor rules” rather than the essence (Lk. 11:42)

 

Tithing mint and rue: They showed religious zeal by carefully calculating even the smallest herbs.

 

What they lack: They completely neglect the core of faith—justice and love for God. In other words, they have form but no life.

 

3.      People consumed by “spiritual pride” and “desire for honor” (Lk. 11:43)

 

Seats of honor and greetings: They loved sitting in prominent places and receiving respectful greetings in public.

 

Meaning: Instead of giving glory to God, they valued religious recognition from people.

 

4.      People who make others “unclean” (Lk. 11:44)

 

According to Jewish law, stepping on a grave made a person unclean for seven days.

 

Those who come into contact with such Pharisees, without realizing their hypocrisy, become spiritually contaminated by their false teachings and values.

 

Summary Ultimately, these were dangerous leaders whose outward religious life was elaborate and impressive, but whose core was filled with self-righteousness and greed instead of God—leading others toward spiritual ruin.

 

(2)   Conclusion: The characteristics of “church members like the foolish Pharisees” in Luke 11:42–44 are as follows:

 

(a)    Believers obsessed with a “religious checklist” rather than the essence (v.42)

 

Biblical picture: They tithe mint and rue but neglect justice and the love of God.

 

Modern-day picture: They faithfully perform outward religious duties—Sunday worship, tithing, service—but lack honesty (justice) in daily life and a passionate love for God.  They treat faith not as a relationship, but as a list of actions.

 

(b)   Believers driven by “spiritual vanity” and a desire for recognition (v.43)

 

Biblical picture: They love the best seats and public greetings.

 

Modern-day picture: They mistake church roles or social status for spiritual authority and place great value on appearing devout and being honored by others.  Their faith is centered not on God, but on human approval and praise.

 

(c)    Believers who become a source of “spiritual contamination” rather than influence (v.44)

 

Biblical picture: Like unmarked graves that people walk over unknowingly.

 

Modern-day picture: They appear to be faithful believers outwardly, but inwardly are filled with worldly values and greed.  Others associate with them thinking they are genuine Christians, yet are subtly harmed spiritually by their hypocrisy and double life.

 

(d)   Believers lacking self-awareness

 

Biblical picture: They try to lead others without realizing they themselves are like “graves.”

 

Modern-day picture: They are convinced they are righteous and saved, judging others, yet are blind to their own inner corruption—spiritually blind.

 

Final Summary: A church member like a foolish Pharisee is someone who, wearing the glasses of religious formalism and intoxicated with self-righteousness, neglects the heart that God truly sees.