Peace and love to each of you in the mighty name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! I pray your day is filled with grace, wisdom, and clarity as we dive into today’s inspired word.
There’s a powerful warning Jesus gave not to outsiders, not to unbelievers, but to the most “religious” people of His day — the Pharisees. He didn’t say, “Avoid the sinners,” He said, “Do not be like the Pharisees.”
Why? Because it is dangerously possible to look godly on the outside but be empty on the inside. Today, we’re about to unmask this and learn how not to fall into the same trap.
A TRUE LIFE STORY
A young man once grew up in a strong church background. He could quote scriptures, fast regularly, and led many church prayers. But he was bitter, proud, and looked down on others who weren’t as “holy” as he appeared.
One day, God used a child to correct him — she said, “Uncle, you always pray, but why don’t you smile or help people
like mummy does?” That moment broke him. He realized he was wearing a mask of spirituality with no love or grace beneath.
That’s exactly the spirit of a Pharisee — performance without presence.
WHO WERE THE PHARISEES?
The Pharisees were a strict religious group among the Jews during Jesus’ time. They were teachers of the Law, respected in public, and known for their rituals, rules, and traditions.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PHARISEES
Loved public recognition Focused more on law than love Were hypocritical — saying but not doing Judged others harshly Obsessed with appearance but ignored the heart Resistant to correction
❓ WERE THEY ALL BAD? Not all Pharisees were evil. For example:
➡️ Nicodemus came to Jesus by night — John 3 ➡️ Gamaliel gave wise counsel to protect the apostles — Acts 5 But the majority resisted truth and grace.
WHAT DID THEY LACK?
❌ Humility ❌ Love ❌ Self-examination ❌ Repentance ❌ Relationship with the Holy Spirit
WHY DID JESUS WARN US?
Jesus warned us because: 🚨 Religion without relationship is dangerous. 🚨 Pride leads to destruction. 🚨 Hypocrisy kills the move of God. 🚨 Appearance can deceive, but the heart reveals truth. 📖 “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.” — Luke 12:1
IF NOT LIKE THEM, THEN HOW SHOULD WE BE?
✅ Be real with God and others ✅ Walk in love, not law alone ✅ Serve in humility ✅ Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your heart ✅ Prioritise relationship over rituals ✅ Be quick to repent and slow to judge
NEUROLOGICAL INSIGHT
🧬 According to Dr. Daniel Amen, a leading Christian neurologist, people who are overly critical and self-righteous show increased activity in the brain’s anterior cingulate gyrus, which leads to rigidity in thinking.
This rigidity blocks compassion, mercy, and grace — the very qualities Jesus modeled. Pharisaic behavior may actually be linked to neurological inflexibility caused by fear, trauma, or ego.
PSYCHOLOGICAL INSIGHT
Psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud explains that people who act like Pharisees often suffer from “spiritual perfectionism” — an identity built around rules instead of relationship.
Their self-worth is tied to performance. When others fail, they judge. When they fail, they hide it.
KEY LESSONS
📍 Don’t confuse religion with relationship 📍 Pride is the mask of the insecure 📍 God’s desire is mercy, not sacrifice 📍 Let God change your heart, not just your habits
MEMORY VERSES
✝️ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” — Matthew 23:25
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” — Matthew 15:8
CHALLENGE: HEART EXAMINATION CHECKLIST
“These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” — Matthew 15:8
This week, ask yourself:
⁉️Am I practising godliness publicly but ignoring it privately? ⁉️Do I post scriptures online but curse or gossip in private? ⁉️Am I giving just to be seen or truly out of love? ⁉️Do I find fault with others more than I correct myself? ⁉️Do I crave titles more than I crave transformation?
The Pharisees were more focused on the outside. Your challenge is to focus within!
Let your inside (motives, thoughts, heart) match your outside (actions, words, appearance).
✅ APPLICATION TIPS: HOW TO AVOID PHARISAIC BEHAVIOR 📌 1. Start your day with a “Heart Prayer”: Ask God to reveal pride, bitterness, hypocrisy, or showmanship in you. 🙏
📌 2. Do secret good deeds: Buy food for someone without telling anyone. Pray for someone without posting about it.
“And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” — Matthew 6:4
📌 3. Value repentance over reputation: It’s okay to say, “I was wrong” — even in front of others. That’s what the Pharisees refused to do.
📌 4. Make it real with one person: Be vulnerable with a trusted spiritual friend or mentor. Open up about your spiritual struggles. Pharisees had a mask — break yours.
📌 5. Read Matthew 23 slowly this week. Highlight everything Jesus said about the Pharisees and write how you can avoid each behavior.
📌 6. Serve in humility, not for attention: Volunteer for something that brings no spotlight. Clean the church. Help a struggling student. Show kindness quietly.
PRAYER
Father, in the name of Jesus, remove every Pharisaic mindset from me. Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. Help me to love like You, walk in humility, and live in truth. Deliver me from spiritual pride and fill me with Your presence. Amen.
PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS
🗣️ I declare, every mask is falling off! 🗣️ I declare, your heart shall be pure, not just your words! 🗣️ I declare, you are rising in humility and walking in truth! 🗣️ I declare, no more performance, only presence! 🗣️ I declare, you shall not be like the Pharisees but like Jesus! Glory
CONCLUSION
Beloved, don’t be fooled by outward appearances — yours or others’. True transformation begins in the heart. Let us not be like the Pharisees, but like Christ — humble, loving, and full of grace.
Action Point
PS: I know you might agree with some of the points raised in this article or disagree with some of the issues raised.
Please share your thoughts on the topic discussed. We would appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.
