Are we now like the Pharisees?

Sunday 5th November 2023

You are welcome to worship in person this Sunday at 10.15am.  Hand sanitizer and masks are available if you would like to use them.

We are also live streaming of our services.  The service can be seen each Sunday morning commencing at 10.15am.  Here is the link to our YouTube channel to access the live streaming: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHEm1fJeADpcP6gO1BsBKcg 

Matthew 23:1-12

Are we now like the Pharisees?

We can learn something from everyone. We can learn how to act or how not to act.

As Christians, we can look at the examples of people in the bible and learn who God wants us to be like and who God wants us NOT to be like.

Jesus points out that the Pharisees are hypocritical and they tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on people’s shoulders.

But he tells us that we can come to him, if we are weary and burdened, and he will give us rest. For his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

He says the Pharisees want to be noticed and looked up to. He points out that they are missing the point of what their role is. He also indicates that they actually misinterpret what God wants of his people.

Today, Christians are criticised for being hypocritical. It thinks Christians should go around loving everyone and that we don’t. Is that criticism fair? Are we hypocrites like the Pharisees? Whether individually we are or not, we are all tarred with the same brush. How do we respond to that sort of criticism? 

Alan Findlay