The Review and Herald
August 29, 1899
Christ's Denunciation of the Pharisees
When Christ came to the world, moral power was at a low ebb. The Jews as a people were not spiritually minded. Their hearts went out after their idols,—supremacy, wealth, and worldly honor. The teachers of the nation interpreted the Scriptures according to their cherished ideas. They taught that the Messiah was to come as an earthly prince, who would reign on David's throne, and crush the heathen under him. They led the people to believe that God would stretch out his arm in their behalf according to his promise, while they did not comply with the conditions of that promise. So far had they separated themselves from God by their wicked works, by their pride and self-righteousness, their oppression of the poor and needy, their hatred and jealousy, that spiritual things were not discerned. RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 1
The angels did not announce the birth of Christ to those who claimed to have great light and knowledge. The rabbis who explained the law in the synagogue—those who above all others should have been intelligent in regard to the coming of the Messiah and the manner of his appearing—knew nothing of the Babe cradled in the manger. Had the angels appeared to them with the good tidings of great joy, telling them the wonderful story of the Babe of Bethlehem, they would have rejected the message with contempt. Such humble birth was not according to their lofty ideas. Therefore the Lord of glory passed by the self-exalted, the men intoxicated with self-love and worldly honor, and came to the men who were humble, who would receive the heavenly messengers and the tidings that were to echo to earth's remotest bounds. RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 2
It was to the humble shepherds that the birth of Christ was first made known. While they were watching their flocks on the hills of Bethlehem, “lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 3
The manner of Christ's first advent, and the condition of those to whom the joyful tidings came, is a lesson we shall do well to study. The Lord does not honor those who honor themselves. He does not give his precious light to those who will not make a right use of it,—who use it to honor themselves, in the place of exalting the Lord God of Israel. Those whom the Lord has blessed with great privileges are to be pure and humble and undefiled. The humility of the world's Redeemer is solemn and instructive. He was the Majesty of heaven, yet while on earth, he was unhonored and almost unknown. The light of the world, the heir of glory, he was despised and rejected of men. RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 4
As we trace the course pursued by the scribes and Pharisees, and see the light and privileges granted them, we are led to inquire, How could those teachers read the word of God without perceiving the truths which it teaches? Upon these men was placed the responsibility of explaining the law in the synagogue; but Christ declared, “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God.” Ye teach for doctrine the commandments of men. The sayings of men, coming down through the rabbis from age to age, had molded their religious worship. Traditions were constantly increasing, which kept the mind in a state of questioning and controversy over the most trivial matters. New laws were constantly being enacted, and the people were taught to regard them as the requirements of God, until a mechanical service became the sum of their religion and their worship. Many of these laws were not committed to writing, and exaction after exaction was added until a most unreasonable mass of maxims and fables was brought together. He who attempted to bring forward scriptures that conflicted with these laws and traditions, was condemned as if he had refused to accept a “Thus saith the Lord.” This education of the rabbis was well-pleasing to Satan; for through them he was preparing the way so that when Christ should come to the world, he would be rejected by his own nation. RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 5
Christ designed that his disciples should have an education altogether different from that which they had received from the scribes and Pharisees. He accused these men of teaching many things contrary to the law. “The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat,” he said; “all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.... He that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 6
When the question was asked, “Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread,” Christ answered them, “Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honor thy father and thy mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honor not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Thus Christ showed the comparative value of the law of God and their traditions. RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 7
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” Christ continued; “for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.” Do we not find just such teachers in our day, men who will not obey the plainest statement of the Word, and who, after they have turned from the light of God themselves, do their utmost to lead others into the same path? They manifest the same spirit toward those who keep God's commandments that the scribes and Pharisees manifested toward Christ. How earnest are these transgressor's of God's law to hedge up the way of those who would accept Christ. They will not enter in themselves, and those who would enter in they hinder. RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 8
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” There are many who claim to be sanctified, but who are not. Shall we receive their testimony? If they are holy, their testimony will be in accordance with the divine will; their prayer will be the prayer of Christ, “Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth.” RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 9
What shall be the detector of character in these last days?—“Ye shall know them by their fruits.” “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.” If men come to us, making void the law of God, we may know that their sanctification is worth just as much, when weighed in the balances of heaven, as were the long, pretentious prayers of the Pharisees. RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 10
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.... Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 11
These fearful denunciations were made upon the Jews, because, while teaching the law of God to the people, they were not doers of the Word. Had they kept the law of God, they would have discerned Christ and his mission. So it is in our day. There are those who walk in darkness when light shines from every page of the written Word. They study the Scriptures that they may interpret them to suit themselves. They sink the Scriptures to their own perverted ideas. They are not honest. They doubt that which they have every reason to believe. They become reasoners in doubt, experts in finding fault. God's word is misinterpreted, misstated, misapplied, and has no power upon the life and character. RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 12
If professed Christians really believe in God, they will not disregard his commandments. Christ says: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” RH August 29, 1899, Art. A, par. 13