James Tissot:
The Pharisee and Publican
Today, reply is on the rejection of Jesus Christ by the religious establishment of his day, and the acceptance of Jesus by publicans and sinners. The account of Nicodemus coming to Christ after dark (so he would not be seen or recognized in public) is one of the clearest depictions of spiritual need among the elders of Israel. Nicodemus could not comprehend the simple ideas that (1.) your inborn spirit must die, be buried, and resurrected from death by GOD, so to speak; and (2.) the original endowment of ones inner spirit must be refreshed with spirit content imparted from the makeup of the Creator: You must be born again. A fighter in the “Yahoo! Answers” Religion and Spirituality forum using the ID “Breakthrough” (Level 6 with 15,514 points a member since June 29, 2013) posted the following:
Why did the pharisees reject Jesus while the tax collectors accepted him?
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, 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. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell? (Matthew 23: 23-33, King James Version, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Bible Language About Spirit? (06/13/2018); Why Spirit Displays Personhood (06/06/2018); Salvation By Good Works? (03/08/2018); The Law and The Prophets (03/07/2018); A Threat Against Judaism (07/17/2017); The Spirit and Prophecy (01/04/2017); The Cross and The Pharisees? (04/21/2016); The Golden Age? (01/10/2013); Translation, Please… (01/11/2013)
“Breakthrough”, it continues today that acceptance/rejection of Jesus as the Christ by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Temple elders of his day can be explained by multiple factors that include ignorance of, and skepticism toward, the promises and prophecies recorded in the holy writings; commonly held ungodly cultural and social standards that resulted through captivity and exile; religious customs and traditions anchored by secular knowledge instead of sacred knowledge as well as spiritual confusion. Jews serving as tax collectors and public officials were like what we now would call an “independent contractor,” a “bounty hunter,” or a “re-po man.” Because these men would add their own fees to the tax assessment, kick in the door, and were empowered to seize family members and property for payment, they were generally regarded as godless thieves, heartless traitors, and turncoats. The effort to continue and defend the blessing of GOD bestowed by the Covenant Law and relationship granted to Moses saw the institutionalization of belief, and the entrenchment of a “religious establishment.” The primary aspect of divinity revealed to mankind was held to be “the law and the prophets;” however, the gift of ministry by a sanctified priesthood that could make atonement through offerings and sacrifices came under a curse at the time of King Saul (Eli, Hophni, and Phinehas); and the gift of prophets was suspended at the time of Malachi some 400 years before the birth of Jesus. The establishment insisted on the primacy of the law “without the prophets,” an approach that denied existence of the Holy Spirit and his gifts (we also say, the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Prophecy, the Spirit of Truth). Whether John the Baptist (who was filled with the Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb) was an authentic prophet from GOD was as much the matter of controversy as whether John himself was the expected Messiah. More than the prophetic demonstrations seen through John and Jesus, the publicans and sinners were drawn to Jesus Christ by his doctrine, insights, and what they perceived as a genuine revelation of the character, makeup and substance of GOD. Consider again, therefore, the following that uses language from the Bible:
(1.) Luke 18: 10-14, King James Version (KJV): 10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. 13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
(2.) Luke 19: 1-10, KJV: 1 And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9 And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
There is far more that should be said, correctly examined, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (3.) Luke 7: 37-50, KJV: 37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment, 38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. 41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. 42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? 43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged. 44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. 45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. 48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. 49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? 50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK
PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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