Why Jesus Condemned the Pharisees

In Jesus' day, the Pharisees were known as those Jews who most closely followed the Law of Moses. They made great strides to obey the Law and considered themselves to be holy. They made a special point of separating themselves from sinners.

Then Jesus comes onto the scene. Jesus came first to the Jews, but also turned to the gentiles. He was seen eating and drinking with sinners and gentiles. Jesus proclaimed that He is the Son of God and the Son of Man. He established that He came to seek out sinners so that they could be saved.

The Pharisees believed that their obedience to the Law was sufficient for salvation. Jesus stated that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, you by no means will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It is by the sacrifice of Christ and by His grace that men can be saved and not obedience to the Law. The Law came to condemn men of their sins, not to make them righteous.

Whenever we think too highly of ourselves, total surrender to Christ is like a mountain. We must come as a sinner saved by grace and then Jesus will substitute His righteousness for yours and salvation will be found.

Daily Prayer: Father, let us realize the depth of our sins. Let us not hide from Jesus because of our guilt, but instead turn it over to him so that we may be saved. In Jesus name I pray Amen.