In today’s text, Pastor Paul delves into the characteristics of the false religion exemplified by the Pharisees, as highlighted in Luke 11:42-45. Pharisaism was a religion rooted in a works-based approach, heavily dependent on meticulous adherence to the law of God. However, the fundamental flaw in this system is that no one, except for Jesus Christ, can fully keep the law. This impossibility leads to an inevitable hypocrisy within false religions, as the sinner’s heart remains unchanged and steeped in sin. As a result, these religions often emphasize secondary, petty issues, diverting attention from the more significant matters of faith.
Jesus denounces this false religion and the hypocrisy of the Pharisees through three woes in verses 42 through 44. The first woe focuses on the Pharisees’ failure to prioritize justice and the love of God. Instead, they are consumed by secondary and trivial matters, which is a hallmark of false religion. Because their hearts are corrupt, they cannot genuinely engage with justice and God’s love. This leads them to focus on external appearances, multiply symbolic acts, and get lost in minutiae, rather than cultivating a true relationship with God.
The second woe condemns the Pharisees for their love of recognition and honor within religious settings. They seek the chief seats in the synagogues and crave respectful greetings in public places. This pursuit of titles and accolades reveals the pride at the heart of false religion. In the Pharisees’ hearts, God is absent, and therefore, the Scriptures do not transform them. We can draw a parallel to modern-day false religions, such as the Catholic Church and the Mormon Church, where leaders hold grand titles that are meaningless in the eyes of God. In contrast, true Christianity calls believers to deny themselves, follow Christ, and seek to honor God alone through faith and obedience.
The third woe likens the Pharisees to concealed tombs, symbolizing their hidden hypocrisy and the danger they pose to others. Like unmarked graves, they spread defilement to those who come into contact with them, leading people astray without their knowledge. Jesus warns that the Pharisees will be judged not only for their own hypocrisy but also for the negative influence they exert on others through their false teachings.
In the cultural context of Jesus’ time, contact with a dead body or even a grave rendered a person ceremonially unclean, requiring a lengthy and costly purification process. The Jews were careful to mark graves to avoid accidental defilement. Similarly, the Pharisees, with their hidden corruption, defiled those who interacted with them without the people even realizing it. This defilement was spiritual, leading people away from the truth of God rather than toward it.
The text emphasizes that true knowledge of God is not based on outward appearances or external rituals but on a transformed heart. Genuine faith is characterized by a deep love for righteousness, God, Christ, Scripture, and humility. This transformation can only occur through the word of God, which is necessary, sufficient, and authoritative in all matters of salvation. Unlike the Pharisees, true believers reflect godliness and eternal life, offering spiritual nourishment to those they encounter, rather than defilement.
In conclusion, we must examine our own hearts and ensure that our faith is not merely external but rooted in a genuine relationship with God. By focusing on the essentials of faith—justice, love for God, and humility—believers can avoid the pitfalls of false religion and hypocrisy. The text serves as a reminder that true Christianity is about inner transformation and living out the love and justice of God in everyday life.
BIBLE COMMUNITY CHURCH 
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