Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy –Luke 12:1
Religion is a mask for hatred of God.
The ways of the Lord are judged according to their own with no thought of His ever judging theirs. Quickly they find fault and slowly, if ever, do they hear rebuke. “Healthy,” needing nothing from the Great Physician, they are progressively devoured by the cancer of Cain.
Cain was the father of Pharisees [Genesis 4:1-11]. Hating, rejecting the way of righteousness, a self-conceived substitute was offered in its stead. A bloody execution upon sin and self he would have none of, and with brazen face the fruit of his own cursed toil was laid in haughty confidence before the God of Heaven. Yet when the Lord cast aside his tainted fruit as worthless, his hardened heart forged war.
Reproof was spurned. His neck stiffened against the God whose ways he despised. His fist clenched against the righteous and struck with murderous rage. He loathed in the depths of his rancid soul the sacrifice that the Lord approved of [Hebrews 11:4], and slaughtered him who brought it [Genesis 4:8].
“Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother” -1 John 3:12. Then with insolent disdain, he mocked Omniscience by his sullen lying reply as to Abel’s whereabouts [Genesis 4:9]. He was a true child of his father, the devil, who is “a murderer…a liar” –John 8:44.
The Pharisees follow in his train. Rejecting the way of righteousness “and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God” –Romans 10:3. The very name Pharisees means “the separated ones.” But they are not separated unto God at all. The only separation they know is a self-imposed isolation into the squalor of their own darkened hearts’ chambers.
What was handed down from ancient tradition dictates their every carefully rehearsed step. And their steps, like their forefather, Cain, led them to kill “those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One” -Acts 7:52. Their religion, Unmasked, compelled them to betray and murder the Son of God whose blood “speaks better than the blood of Abel” –Hebrews 12:24.
“They do all their deeds to be noticed by men” –Matthew 23:5, “to be seen by men” –Matthew 6:5, “to be honored by men” –Matthew 6:2, and to “receive glory from one another” –John 5:44. “They loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” –John 12:43. The face is fair while the heart is foul.
See them nod acknowledgment for respectful greetings: “Hail, Pastor, Reverend, Doctor, Rabbi” [Matthew 23:7]. Gaze at them solemnly seated above their fellows at the head of their halls of weekly ceremony [Matthew 23:6].Watch as their hoarded coins clink impressively into coffers which eventually filter down into their awaiting left hands [Matthew 6:2-4]. Hear their lofty swelling oratory to the skies: a magnificent volume of multiplied words unheard by heaven [Matthew 6:5-7].
Observe them, morose and downcast, fasting by denying bodily demands in order to feed the cravings of insatiable pride parading as humility [Matthew 6:16-18]. Learn from them seated in Moses’ chair. Learn the peril of knowing what God says without doing it [Matthew 23:2,3]. Learn well the damnation upon knowing where to meet Christ without arising, finding, and worshipping Him [Matthew 2:1-11]. Count precisely their tithes of dill and see gnats that have been purged [Matthew 23:23,24]. Admire their expanded encasements of Scriptures brandished before approving eyes [Matthew 23:5].
Rather, weep with broken heart for the devoured widow [Matthew 23:14]. Grieve for multitudes enrolled and seduced by them, now sons of hell [Matthew 23:15]. Gasp in amazement as the camels of greed, arrogance, and hypocrisy are devoured by their ravenous gaping appetite [Matthew 23:24]. Shudder in disgust over the vermin-infested stench of their decomposed heart of death [Matthew 23:27].
Shrink in horror at the tombs of the righteous from every generation murdered by their forefathers. And appalled and aghast, witness them fill up the measure of their guilt as spikes are driven into the outstretched arms of the Son of God Himself [Matthew 23:29-37]. Witness the sure end of all religion.
“‘Behold, your king!’ They therefore cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!’ ‘Shall I crucify your king?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar’” –John 19:14,15.
Solemn: in zeal for “Jehovah,” they slaughtered Jesus -Jehovah’s salvation. Of these the Lord Jesus said: “Outwardly you appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness” –Matthew 23:28. And there you have the final outcome and verdict against all religion Unmasked.