In previous blogs I wrote about two reasons that the Pharisees and Lawyers (scribes) rejected Jesus. The first reason was because of previous choices they had made. They rejected John the Baptist’s teaching. This led them down a road to rejecting Jesus as well. The second reason was because they did not understand holiness. They thought of holiness as an external action, but God sees holiness as an internal quality that flows out into action. There is a third reason they rejected Jesus. That is pride.
In Luke 10 a lawyer (scribe) asked Jesus what the Law taught about receiving eternal life. Instead of hearing what Jesus had to say, he felt the need to justify himself (see Lk 10.29). His question, ultimately, was not a search for truth, but an opportunity to express his own piety.
In Luke 14:7 Jesus “noticed how they chose the places of honor. Jesus responded with a parable about a wedding that concluded with these words, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 14:11). In Matthew 23:5 Jesus said of the scribes and Pharisees, “They do all their deeds to be seen by others.” They were more concerned about how people saw them than about what God thought.
In Luke 18 Jesus told a parable of a Pharisee and a tax-collector (one considered a dishonest collaborator with the Romans). The Pharisee gave an elegant and arrogant prayer to be seen by others. The tax-collector prayed a prayer of genuine brokenness. Jesus concluded, that it was the tax-collector who was justified, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted” (Lk 18:14). The Pharisees were arrogant in their faith, but it is humility that draws people to Christ.
The Pharisees rejected Jesus because of previous choices they had made, because they misunderstood holiness, and because of their own pride and arrogance. I recall playing with a razorblade when I was a young child. When my mother and aunt saw what I was doing they immediately demanded that I give them the razorblade. In my stubbornness I clamped my fist around that razorblade and refused to let go. They had to pry my hand open. I have a scar to this day as a memorial to my stubbornness. Too often our own pride causes us to stubbornly reject Jesus even when we know that we are wrong.
The Pharisees and scribes rejected Jesus because the crowds were following him instead of them (see Jn 12:19). They had heard his teaching. They had seen his miracles. They knew the scriptures. But their pride kept them from believing. Don’t let your own pride keep you from trusting the one who alone can be fully trusted. Don’t let you pride keep you from submitting to the teaching of Jesus and his Word. To enter into the fullness of all he has to offer, we must come with humility. Pride keeps us from Christ.
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