(Editor's note: Brother Johnny Ramsey died October
5, having faithfully preached the gospel for 57 years. The Pennsboro
church of Christ invited brother Ramsey to speak at their 2003
and 2005 lectureships. In notes to us, he wrote, "Here is
some material for the booklet you will have for the lectures in
Pennsboro. You may chop it up and use it as you wish." We
published eight of his articles. Here is one we did not use.)
In Luke 12:1, the Savior made it very clear that
"hypocrisy" and "Pharisees" went together.
In fact, in Matthew 23:3 He stated, "They say and do not
..." Christ denounced that sect of the Jews for external
religion without heart, compassion, or concern for others. What
they believed sounded good, but their actions were detrimental
and selfish. "You can fool the hapless public, You can be
a subtle fraud, You can hide your little meanness, But you cannot
fool God!"
In Matthew 23, our blessed Lord rebuked these
keepers of orthodoxy for shameful self-righteousness and inhumane
treatment of others. In a little poem we have an exact analysis
of their daily problem. "You will fail no matter what you
do, Unless you cleanse the inside, too!" "Rend your
hearts and not your garments ..." was the message of Joel
2:13. They forgot.
In Matthew 6, the Master made it clear that to
fast and pray to be seen of man was a serious mistake. In Mark
7, Jesus taught that defilement comes from within a man's heart
and not from what he puts in his mouth. Yes, as Titus 1:15 declares,
"Unto the pure all things are pure." If we fail to get
attitude, motive, and emphasis right, we will be estranged from
God! In a classic verse from Matthew 5:8, we must be pure in heart
if we would see God! Therefore, we must think on things that are
pure (Philippians 4:8).
The Pharisees added 1,100 traditions to the Law
and seemed to exalt those beyond the Law that Jehovah gave through
Moses. Notice what the Savior talked about in Matthew 23 as He
thoroughly exposed their folly: They were very materialistic;
they loved pre-eminence; they mistreated widows; They had forgotten
what service was; They enjoyed converting others to themselves;
They truly loved to show off; They overlooked mercy, justice,
and faith in violation of Micah 6:8. Jesus stated clearly that
they would strain out a gnat and then swallow a camel.
Paul made it clear that being a Pharisee was far
better and more accurate than other groups of the Jews. Read Acts
26:5-7 and Acts 23:6. When the Savior mentioned that we should
exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees, He was speaking of
sincerity in contrast to the duplicity of those folk who were
"acting on a stage." Of all the sins Christ hated, hypocrisy
was at the top of the list.
One of the most shameful actions of the Pharisee
was robbing widows' houses. In Mark 7 we find the calloused nature
of children who not only would not come to the aid of parents
but even invented a word, Corban, to excuse their lack
of compassion. That expression meant, "We have already put
that money into the Treasury." As a result of these ungodly
attitudes, our Lord finished Matthew 23 by reminding them of His
broken heart because they would not let Him into their lives (verse
37). As a result, their temple would be left desolate. All of
this reminds me of Ezekiel 33:31. Their heart was not in it.
In Job 22:22 we find salient words to counter
the indifference of the Pharisees. "Receive, I pray thee
the law from his mouth, and lay up his words in thine heart."
If the sentiment of the following passage had guided the Pharisees
they would have had a bright future. "One thing have I desired
of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house
of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the
Lord, and to inquire in his temple." Psalm 27:4
When we truly seek God with our whole hearts (Psalm
119:2), we will shuffle off the coils of hypocrisy and walk joyously
in the path of righteousness!