Pharisees Have No Justice, No Mercy and No Faithfulness
The Pharisees' neglect of justice, mercy, and faithfulness is a warning to us to focus on the weightier matters of the Christian life.
Zac Poonen emphasizes that the Pharisees, despite their religious practices, lacked true justice, mercy, and faithfulness, which are the weightier matters of the law. He illustrates their hypocrisy by comparing them to a bride who is more concerned with appearance than purity, highlighting that selfishness and pride can mask true spirituality. Poonen calls for a recognition of these essential qualities in our lives, urging believers to focus on genuine faith rather than mere religious activities. The sermon challenges listeners to examine their hearts and prioritize justice, mercy, and faithfulness in their walk with God.
Text
"You Pharisees have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done.... (Matthew 23:23).
The Pharisees were unjust and unfair in their dealings with people. They had no mercy towards those who had failed and they were not faithful in their private lives. But with all these lacks in their lives, they still considered themselves holy, because of their fastings and prayers and Bible knowledge, etc. They were like a bride going to her wedding whose bridal gown was all dirty and messy but who was only concerned that she should walk gracefully into the wedding.
If there is selfishness, pride, unmerciful attitudes and unfaithfulness in our lives, then to glory in our religious activities is only to deceive ourselves that we are spiritual. We need to recognise what the weightier matters of the Christian life are - and concentrate on them first.
Sermon Outline
- The Pharisees' Neglect of Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness
- The Pharisees were unjust and unfair in their dealings with people
- They had no mercy towards those who had failed
- They were not faithful in their private lives
Key Quotes
“You Pharisees have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done.... (Matthew 23:23)” — Zac Poonen
Application Points
- We must recognize and focus on the weightier matters of the Christian life, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
- Glorying in our religious activities without living out justice, mercy, and faithfulness is a form of self-deception.
- We must examine our hearts and lives to see if we have selfishness, pride, unmerciful attitudes, and unfaithfulness.