Why did Jesus say that the 'Scribes and Pharisees' are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness? Matt. 23:27,28

Answer 1

A person is a hypocrite if he pretends to be what he is not. He is a person whose actions are out of harmony with his words. If anyone who professes to serve God relies on his own ideas instead of adhering to the Bible that makes him a hyporite. Jesus Christ identified as hypocrites persons who make gifts of mercy with showy display, who pray and fast to be seen by men, and who pick on the strawlike faults of their brothers but do nothing about removing their own rafterlike faults. Not only did the Son of God while on earth denounce the religious leaders of Israel as hypocrites but he also stated his reasons for doing so. They rendered mere lip service to the Creator, making the word of God invalid because of their traditions. They were sticklers for the little things of the Law but disregarded the weightier matters of it—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. As hypocrites, they possessed only a seemingly clean outward appearance, inside they were full of immoderateness. Like whitewashed graves, outwardly beautiful, they appeared righteous to men, but inside they were “full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27) A hypocritical course cannot be concealed indefinitely. (Lu 12:1-3) Hypocrites are condemned by God as unworthy of life everlasting. (Mt 24:48-51) Therefore, a Christian’s love and faith must be without hypocrisy.

Answer 2

Pablito has the correct answer.

The scribes and pharisees were so focused on the rules and regulations that they used the rules to suit their own needs and ignored the intention of those rules.

For instance, rules about keeping the sabbath. It was set aside as time to worship God and rest the body. But because Jesus healed on the sabbath he showed that you have to be practical about the rules and regulations. Understand WHY these rules are there and you understand how to live your life and what to strictly follow.

For instance, I think back to one of the Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. A great grandfather of one of the characters lived in a religious society (in the early 1800s) that felt that ANY type of work on the Sabbath was wrong. That meant they could not even hitch up a horse to the wagon so the family instead would have to walk to church because that would be doing work to hitch up the horses and that work would violate the Sabbath. It sounds like that family did not understand the concept of keeping the Sabbath in the way that I interpret the example of Jesus. God gives us common sense to know what we can or cannot do, and looks at the intentions.

I think what Jesus was trying to tell the scribes and pharisees was, stop following the rules just to be able to say "I have kept all the commandments" which was nothing more than bragging rights. If they had kept the commandments out of love instead of obligation, then it would be correct. But not for the sake of just saying you can follow the rules.

Answer 3

Because they were religious leaders that in reality were supposed to help people and lay a good example for them to follow since that was their duty, but instead they were like"whitewashed graves, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men's bones and of every sort of uncleanliness". They appeared to be righteous but inside they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

Answer 4

Well, consider God's Law about the Sabbath : "...But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:..." - Exo. 20:8-11 (only verse 10 quoted for brevity)

Now consider Jesus healing the lame man at Bethsaida on the Sabbath... All the guy did, once he was healed, was pick up his mat, and walk off, yet the Pharisees proclaimed him a sinner for doing so. Is that truly work? Or a mere 'fact of life' that if you go somewhere with something, you really should return home with it. Yet, the simple act of carrying was not what God forbade... but it was about doing common work: household chores, running a business, planting a field, stuff like that, so that it'd ensure mankind has time to rest. By that token of logic, wouldn't it be 'work' just to prepare for teaching on the Sabbath?

Or consider when Jesus chided them about respecting parents.
"For God commanded, saying, 'Honor your father and mother...' 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" - Mat. 15:4-6

God said "Honor your parents", but the Pharisees taught that if something was going to be dedicated to God, then you couldn't turn around and give it to your parents, even if they were in need, and by *not* honoring their parents (ie breaking God's laws), they were fulfilling their own man-made laws.

They placed their own laws as being more important than God's laws, and yet, they themselves did not heed God's laws about forgiveness and mercy, but expected the people to heed their laws, even if it meant pain or loss to others, instead.

Answer 5

They called themselves God's men but live evil behind close doors. Look at some evangelist and see the modern day example. Look at some pedophile preiset and see a modern day example.

Answer 6

They were so wound up in the law that they used it to benefit themselves, and didn't know the real intent. Then when Jesus was with them, they didn't even know who He was, which they should, if they had really known the scriptures.

Answer 7

They no longer worshipped God sincerely, but only paid lip services and performed empty rituals.

Answer 8

Either 1) he believed it. or 2) he was misquoted or 3) he was being sarcastic.

Answer 9

They were very "religious" and more concerned with appearing good then actually going any good.

Answer 10

because He knew their thoughts and deeds.They would ask the people to forgive others who wronged them,give to the poor,....when they didnt forgive nor give to the poor.