PHARISEE SYNDROME (Part 3)
Over the last few months I have been sharing on the idea of how we as Christians, if we are not careful, can live in a way that is Pharisaical in nature. The first two parts I shared dealt with allowing mercy to triumph over judgement, and holiness/righteousness to triumph over legalism (a form of self-righteousness).
This final section will deal with allowing the law of love to triumph over the love of law.
Again, as a way of reminder, we have looked at specific passages in the Gospels to show us how the religious leadership of the day responded to Jesus and His radical approach to living for God and loving and serving His fellow man. The passage we will look at is:
Luke 7:36-50, “Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he replied, “Say it, Teacher.” “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.” Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” Then He said to her, “Your sins have been forgiven.” Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this man who even forgives sins?” And He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.””
This is such a powerful passage. We get to see in full detail how the Pharisaical mindset is directly opposed to the mind of Christ. There are a number of amazing things happening; but in my opinion, the most profound statement from this passage is verse 47, “… For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.” This statement should actually cause each of us to go into a certain amount of personal evaluation. Have I been forgiven little or much? Do we recognize what Christ has done for us? Do we find ourselves looking down on others? Do we forget where we were at one time, and somehow think we are better than others. All those are valid questions! I would suggest to you, if we are honest with ourselves, we realize that we all start from the same place…a sinner that needs God’s grace through His son Jesus Christ. I would also suggest to you, that all of us who have confessed Christ as Lord and are living a life of holiness dependent on Him, have been forgiven much!!
So, my response/your response, should be to remember where we’ve come from, that all of us have been forgiven much and start to do better at loving much!
Cautiously Optimistic:
will be taking place in the weeks and months to come. When we get pictures of the new additions, we will be sure to share them with you. Almost on a weekly basis, we are receiving texts and audio messages from Haiti, from the Center of Help staff sharing their thankfulness and appreciation. Thanks to so many of you who have responded with a gracious heart to help those less fortunate. 
