Matthew 3:7-8 The Pharisees and Sadducees
Coming to John
Introduction: The Sanhedrin Counsel was made up of
Pharisees and Sadducees. Apparently they
met and decided to go as a group to John and be baptized. Matthew tells us about their coming. Before we can understand why they came and
why John refused to baptize them, we need to understand who and what they were.
I. Who were the Pharisees?
A. The name came
from a Hebrew word meaning “the separatists.”
(They separated themselves from the common
people and from many things
which they considered unclean).
B. Originally, all
Pharisees were scribes. (If I understand right, some few outsiders
other than scribes
were finally admitted).
C. They started
back in the time of the Greek empire.
1.
Alexander ordered all nations be taught Greek language and Greek
customs.
2. The
scribes organized an association to resist change in Jewish religion.
D. At first they
sought only to keep Jewish religion true to the law.
E. Finally there
purpose was to keep it in line with their writings which interpreted the
law.
(Their customs).
F. According to Unger’s
Bible Dictionary, there were seven named groups of Pharisees
by the time of
Christ:
1. The
Shechemite Pharisees.
(Interested in keeping the Law for what social and
material
benefits they could get out of it).
2. The
Trembling Pharisees. (Wanted to appear
humble and so they bowed
constantly
to everybody).
3. The
Bleeding Pharisees. (They walked with
their eyes shut for fear they would
see a woman
and be tempted.)
4. The
Mortar Pharisees. (They all wore mortar
caps or little round skull caps).
5.
What-am-I-to-do Pharisees. (These
were not scribes, were unfamiliar with the
Law and were fearful that they
were breaking it. “What am I to do?”).
6. The
Pharisees From Fear.
(They were afraid not to try and keep the Law.
7. The
Pharisees From Love.
(These truly loved the Lord and tried to keep the
Law to please
Him).
II. Who were the Sadducees?
A. They were of
the priesthood.
B. They got started
in the time of the Mackabees; they organized to drive
out the Syrians
and return the rule
of
C. They believed
in keeping the Mosiac Law, but they bitterly resented
the Phariseeic interpretations.
D. They would not
hesitate to compromise the Law when it was politically expedient.
E. They differed
from the Pharisees in the following:
1.
They did not believe in the immortality of the soul.
2.
They did not believe in heaven or hell.
3.
They did not believe in angels.
4.
They did not seek to keep the Law to try to get to heaven, but to
improve life here.
F. Together the
Pharisees controlled the Sanhedrin. (The
Pharisees were more numerous, but the
Sadducees held the office of High Priest and
thus headed the counsel).
III. Why did they come to John
and why did John refuse to baptize them?
A. They did not
come believing John’s message of repentance and faith. (If they had, John would
have baptized them).
B. The Pharisees
came, evidently, because they wanted to make a show of piousness. (The masses
of people accepted
John as a prophet of God. To be baptized
by that prophet would make
them appear to be in
God’s will).
C. The Sadducees
came apparently to gain political power.
(John was a messenger of the coming King.
To be baptized by the messenger of the king
would get them in good with the new king).
D. John refused to
baptize them because they sought baptism out of the wrong motive. (He counseled
them to repent and
to bring forth fruits of repentance, then he would baptize them).
IV. Are there any modern day
Pharisees and Sadducees?
A. There are no
groups by this name, but there are those who seek baptism for the wrong motive.
B. Some, like the
Pharisees, seek baptism in order to become more socially acceptable. (It gives
respectability).
C. Some, like the
Sadducees, seek baptism for political or business reasons.
D. Some seek it
thinking that it might help them get into God’s kingdom.
E. But the only
baptism which God approves is for those who have repented and trusted Jesus.
Conclusion: A lot of people came to John who did repent
and trust Jesus. That is what you need
to do. And then get baptized and live for
the Lord.
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