Mt 23:3-4 "Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do. "For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers."

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Always
looking down
on others!

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3. **0

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The Pharisaical Mind-set!
Lk. 15:1-2 Then all the tax
collectors and the sinners
drew near to Him to hear Him.
And the Pharisees and scribes
complained, saying, "This Man
receives sinners and eats with
them."

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The danger of “ourselves!”
●One of the toughest barriers we will ever
face is “self!”
●One of the greatest enemies we will often
face is “self!”
●Today we will be looking at our need to
overcome “self-righteousness!”
–We are all so good at seeing the sins in
others, but missing them in ourselves!
–What if we learned to see ourselves as we
see others, or others as ourselves?

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Rebuking & Reporting on the
Pharisees!
●Jesus does this no less than 12 times in
Matthew alone!
–Mt. 6:1-18; 9:10-13, 32-35; 12:1-2, 14; 15:1-2;
16:1; 19:3; 21:23-27; 22:15-22, 34-46; 23:1-23
and on and on we could go!
●Mt 23:2-3 saying: "The scribes and the
Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. "Therefore
whatever they tell you to observe, that
observe and do, but do not do according to
their works; for they say, and do not do."

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What characterized these men?
● In our lesson tonight we want to look
at these men and find out what caused
them to developed this mind- set and
then ask if we have come to do them
same?
● It is our goal to be warned against
becoming like these men!
● As this was a problem in Jesus’ day, it
is still very much a problem today!

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I. Understanding Fact from
Fiction!
●This is often a major problem in the church, we
need to be able to separate “fact from fiction!” (2
Tim. 4:1-5)
–2 Tim 4:4 and they will turn their ears away
from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.
●We can always find someone that will tell us just
about anything, so we need to learn to discern!
–Be a Berean! (Act. 17:10-11)
–Show thyself approved! (2 Tim. 2:15)

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Seeing themselves as righteous!
●They could always find the sins in others, but
never in themselves!
–See Lk. 18:9-14
●The truth is that we are “all” sinners in need of
a Savior!
–Rom. 3:10-12, 23
●None of us are “righteous enough” to go to
heaven!
–Isa 64:6 (a) But we are all like an unclean
thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy
rags

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Only by the Blood!
●Rev 1:5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful
witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the
ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who
loved us and washed us from our sins in His
own blood.
●2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin
to be sin for us, that we might become the
righteousness of God in Him.
●It only takes “one sin” to make us a sinner and
therefore unrighteous!
–Js.2:10 stumble in one point, he is guilty of all

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Sinners to repentance!
●Mk 2:15-17 Now it happened, as He was dining
in Levi's house, that many tax collectors and
sinners also sat together with Jesus and His
disciples; for there were many, and they followed
Him. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw
Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners,
they said to His disciples, "How is it that He eats
and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?" When
Jesus heard it, He said to them, "Those who are
well have no need of a physician, but those who
are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but
sinners, to repentance."

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II. Understanding Truth from
Tradition!
Or Command from Custom!
●This sometimes can be a bit tricky and that is
why we need to both understand “what” we do
and “why” we do it!
●The Bible even commands us to “keep the
traditions!”
–1 Cor 11:1-2 Imitate me, just as I also imitate
Christ. Now I praise you, brethren, that you
remember me in all things and keep the
traditions just as I delivered them to you.

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The ones we are to keep are
“inspired traditions!”
●2 Thess 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand
fast and hold the traditions which you were
taught, whether by word or our epistle.
●2 Thess 3:6 But we command you,
brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that you withdraw from every brother
who walks disorderly and not according to
the tradition which he received from us.

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Man’s traditions vs. God’s
traditions/truth!
●We have to always be careful to never put what
we want before or in place of what God wants!
●The Pharisees would often put “their” traditions
before the truth!
–Mt 15:2-3 "Why do Your disciples transgress
the tradition of the elders? For they do not
wash their hands when they eat bread." He
answered and said to them, "Why do you also
transgress the commandment of God because
of your tradition?"

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III. Understanding Self-
Giving from Self-Getting!
●The Pharisees were only in it for
themselves! They wanted all praise and all
the glory!
●When Jesus came on the scene and the
people started following Him, they became
angry because they wanted all the glory!
●Self-glory! (Mt. 6:1-16) “to be seen of
men!” (Cf. Mt. 23:1-7)

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Glory from men or glory for God?
●Do we only serve God to be seen of men, or do
we serve God regardless if men see us?
●Lives worthy to bring God glory!
–Mt 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works and glorify
your Father in heaven."
●We serve a “self-giving” God!
–Joh 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He
gave His only begotten Son, that whoever
believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life."

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Conclusion:
● The Pharisaical mind-set is still affecting
many people today! We need to be ready!
– Fact from Fiction!
– Truth from Tradition!
– Self-giving from Self-getting!
● Have you come to believe in Jesus? Have
you been forgiven and set free?
● For us that are children of God, we need to
be on guard so that we don't become self-
righteous!

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19. **0
to overcoming
the pharisaical
mind-set!
Learn to serve like Jesus!