The Pharisee & Tax Collector: Crushes others for the approval of man

Matthew 23:1-7 | Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden. “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’

• Pharisees were religious teachers or church leaders in Jesus’ time and they were full of pride. Pride is thinking you’re better than others or that you don’t need anyone else (even God). How do we see their pride in these verses?

• How did the pride of the pharisees make others feel?

• The pharisees acted to receive the approval of others. Do you ever do things so people will think you’re awesome, cool, likable? If so what? For who’s approval?

• Do you think the pharisee’s pretending honored God? Why or why not?

• When you do things for the approval of others, do you think you are honoring God? Why or why not?

Additional Reading: Galatians 1:10