Chapter 1. Part 2. The Pharisee.
WE SPOKE last week of the Pharisees’ devotion to the “Traditions of men,” putting aside for them the pure word of God. Making clean, as the Lord Jesus told them, the outside, while within was all manner of evil. (Matt. 23:2626Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. (Matthew 23:26).)
Today let us consider a little the dress and appearance of a Pharisee. Let us fancy we are walking in the streets of that beautiful city Jerusalem 1900 years ago. Do you see that man coming towards you? His long robe is strictly plain, but above it is a shorter garment, with a broad fringe of blue around it; bound on to his forehead is a small parchment roll, and a similar one is seen upon the left arm, fastened by black leather straps wound round the hand and arm. These are the “phylacteries” of which our Lord speaks in Matt. 23:55But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, (Matthew 23:5). On the parchment is written various passages of Scripture, taken from the books of Exodus and Deut. The Pharisee places immense importance on the wearing of these. He says that Moses received the law of their observance from God on Mount Sinai, and that they are more sacred than the golden plate on the forehead of the high-priest. They are reverenced as highly as the Scriptures, and like them, may be rescued from the flames on the Sabbath, though not worn upon that day, as that would be carrying a burden, and therefore unlawful. Are you wondering what the broad blue border, or fringe to the upper garment is for? To answer that question we must turn to the book of Numbers, Chapter 15:38. There we find the Lord commanding that the children of Israel should make them fringes of blue in the borders of their garments, that when they looked upon it, they might remember to keep all the words of Jehovah. In the days when our Lord was upon earth, all Jews wore this border to their garments, and no doubt when we read of the poor woman who said, “If I may but touch the hem of His garment I shall be healed,” we can believe it was this fringe or border of blue which she laid her hand upon.
But to go back to the Pharisee, who, as our Lord tells the multitude in Matt. 23, “They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarged the borders of their garments,” we shall presently see stops suddenly in the middle of the street, he draws his feet together, arranges his clothes, and bending his body so low that “the skin over his heart would fall into folds,” he begins to repeat his prayers; the hour, according to the tradition he delights in, has come for prayer and nothing must hinder him. “The very salutation of a king,” it was said, “must remain unreturned; nay, the twisting of a serpent around one’s heel must remain unheeded.” Nor was it merely at certain hours the Pharisee must pray. He must pray on entering or leaving a village; in passing through a fortress, if he met with danger, or saw anything new, beautiful, strange or unexpected. And the longer the prayers, the better, for the Pharisee said, “Much prayer is sure to be heard,” and “Long prayers prolong life.” They also felt it a great merit to say many prayers; and to utter a hundred benedictions in one day was a sign of great piety. I might go on and tell you much more about the Pharisees, but time fails me, and I think you know enough about them now to understand what kind of men they were, whom our blessed Lord met day by day. Men whose holiness was purely on the outside; whose good deeds were done to be seen by men; who had no real value for true devotedness to God, and who when they came in contact with One who was absolutely holy, only desired to crucify Him, and get rid of Him from off the earth.
But while we see so clearly where the Pharisee sinned, let us take care that we ourselves are not like him. Let us be sure that we are not only patching up and painting over the outside, while the inside is full of evil, but let us remember that it is with the heart God has to do, and that His eyes can see us through and through, for He has said, “The Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Sam. 16:77But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7).
ML 06/02/1912