Why is the Scribes’ and Pharisees’ Role so

Important?

Matthew 23:5-7 “ 5 And they do all their deeds in order to be seen by men. For they broaden their phylacteries and enlarge their tassels , 6 and they love the chief place at the banquets, and the first seats in the synagogues, 7 and the greetings in the marketplaces , and to be called ' Rabbi ' by men.” - Berean Literal Bible God uses these two prominent Biblical figures to illustrate how conceit goes along with hierarchical stature in religion. The Bible was written for readers spanning over centuries. Were the Scribes and Pharisees acting out their conceit by way of own power? No, they were acting it out by the power of God! God created every action before the foundation of the world already. Isaiah 45:7 “I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil : I the LORD do all these things..” - King James Bible Professor, Pastor, does your sanctimonious tone of voice change the moment you are questioned, let alone reprimanded? What comes to mind now are the historical cases of two different professors’ responses of irritation on different occasions. The one… “you are not talking to an ordinary man here”… and the other one… “you come to me, the expert…!”. Neither of them will most likely ever read this page. Ecclesiastes 1:9 “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun.” - New International Version Professor, Pastor, in this era… do you delight in being seen… in being called “Professor”, “Pastor”, “Reverend”, “Dominee” in malls and market places? Do you engage in endless bickering around fleshly immoral behaviour of your members? And what about your church’s spiritual immorality with the world… the most abominable immorality in God’s eyes? You know, the immorality with the intimate focus on money, rather on Christ? James 4:4 “ Adulteresses ! Do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility with God? Therefore whoever has chosen to be a friend of the world is appointed an enemy of God.” - Berean Literal Bible Revelation 17:1-2 “ 1 Then one of the seven angels with the seven bowls came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute , who sits on many waters. 2 The kings of the earth were immoral with her, and those who dwell on the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her immorality .”” - Berean Study Bible What immorality is reflected here above, Pastor? Most certainly it is not of the physical-, but the spiritual kind, the kind where intimacy with the world took over. God wants our inner all, not our external show-off cover-ups. Isaiah 1:13 “Stop bringing meaningless offerings! Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations -- I cannot bear your worthless assemblies .” - New International Version On a lighter note… Let’s see what Jesus Himself had to say to the Scribes and Pharisees… Matthew 23:24 “You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.” - New International Version If this is not the ultimate form of a humoured reprimand from Jesus against their pious hypocrisy, then what is? Did they suffer from indigestion? We won’t know. Fact remains… they wanted to kill Jesus so many times, because of their egos. They hated Him and couldn’t stand being questioned, let alone reprimanded. And you, Professor, Pastor, would you also have taken offence?