Today, the body of Christ is suffering because of the Pharisee’s mindset of many believers. My brother, my sister, Jesus exposed, rebuked and corrected the Pharisees many times, calling them hypocrites, snakes and telling them this: “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you” (verses 34-37).
The fact is, the Pharisees knew the Law, they knew it all, therefore they thought they knew the truth. But they were not able to recognise the Truth standing before them and were not set free, that is the reason why it was difficult for them to understand the Word made flesh. The Bible says: “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”” (verses 31-33). Now, just notice this: the Bible says Jesus was talking to the Jewish people who had believed Him, so they were not unbelievers! Yet, they still did not have understanding of what He said and continued to question Him. That’s the Pharisee mindset, because when you tell a child something and they believe you, they don’t ask you any question: they just expect you to give them what you have promised them! And this attitude is more like an unbeliever’s, and to such attitude, the Bible says: “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, so they can neither see with their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn—and I would heal them. “John 12:38-40). Now, you way wonder why the Lord will harden someone’s heart because they are still wandering around with their faith. The answer is in the Word of God: if you believe in Him, then you believe in His Word. Or else, you are doing like someone who is married and is still looking around as if he/she is not married. And that is called adultery for Jesus! (Matthew 5:27-28)
You way wonder how does all this apply to us today? It is clear, the Bible calls a Pharisee whoever thinks they have the truth, while they do not acknowledge the Truth, Jesus in different ways (rebellion, disobedience, refusal to submit, hypocrisy in their worship of the Lord, etc…) And unfortunately, so many believers are deceived by themselves, and the sign of the Pharisee in them is spiritual instability, discontentment and wandering around like aimless people. How can a son or daughter of God not have an aim in their spiritual life? The Bible says: “Behold, days are coming, declares the Lord God, When I will send a famine on the land, Not a famine for bread or a thirst for water, But rather for hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea And from the north even to the east; They will go to and fro to seek the word of the Lord, But they will not find it. In that day the beautiful virgins And the young men will faint from thirst (Amos 8:11-13).
My friend, change your own mindset by abandoning it to the leading of the Holy Spirit: Jesus cannot quench the thirst of a Pharisee! The Bible says: “but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14). The truth has to be said: if you are still thirsty while walking with the Lord, it is because you have not yet drunk His living water, therefore you are just like a married person who is still looking for a spouse! Get rid of the Pharisee in you! Stay blessed in Jesus’ name.