Sermons on Pharisee And Publican:

Jesus The Controversialist Series

Contributed by David Owens on Apr 17, 2023

Mark portrays Jesus as strong and bold as He dealt with spiritual controversies "head on." In this section of Mark, he grouped together four incidents that showed how Jesus faced the controversies and taught the truth. We need to ask ourselves if we are more like Jesus or the Pharisees.

A. Let me begin with a question: when you try to picture Jesus in your mind, how do you picture Him? 1. Do you picture Him being gentle, meek and loving? Certainly, He was all those things. 2. But Jesus also had other characteristics and other sides to Him. 3. When we read the Gospel accounts, ...read more

Scripture: Exodus 20:8-10

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

"the Great Mercy Of God"

Contributed by Ken Sauer on Jul 26, 2023

A sermon about something we are all guilty of.

“The Great Mercy of God” Luke 18:9-14 Have you ever driven past another person holding a sign “will work for food” and felt a bit of disgust or even contempt in your heart toward them…kind of like a feeling of “I’m better than you”? Have you ever felt superior to a prostitute, a drug addict, an ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: United Methodist

Be Faithful To The Mission To The Nations

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Aug 22, 2023

The story of Ruth, and her place in the genealogy of the Messiah, is written testimony against a kind of closed faith and worship.

Saturday of the 20th Week in Course 2023 The story of the Moabite woman, Ruth, has come down to us because of her association with the kingly house of David. She was David’s great-great grandmother. But for both OT and NT authors, her distinction was that she was not descended from the patriarch ...read more

Scripture: Genesis 17:5, Matthew 23:1-12, Ruth 2:1-3, Ruth 2:8-11, Ruth 4:13-17, Psalm 128:1-5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

His Powerful Name; His Awesome Promise

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Sep 5, 2023

We look forward at the end of our lives to participating in a New Creation, the very Kingdom of God and of His Christ, the Kingdom of Heaven.

Saturday of the 22nd Week in Course 2023 The overall impression one can get from this very brief Gospel from Luke is that the Pharisees have nothing better to do on the Sabbath than find fault with how other Jews keep Shabbat. In this case, it was not a violation of Torah to eat the grain on ...read more

Scripture: Colossians 1:21-23, Luke 6:1-5

Denomination: Catholic

Running On Empty

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 13, 2023

If we are all we have, we better hang onto it. But those who are full of God can’t wait to give it away.

Show me the alley, show me the train, Show me the homeless man who sleeps out in the rain... And I’ll show you a young man with so many reasons why, There but for fortune go you or I, you or I. Show me the whiskey stains on the floor, Show me the drunkard as he stumbles out the door... And I’ll ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Something Completely Different

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Sep 17, 2023

When God intervenes to bring life out of death, we have to let him do it his way.

How many of you remember Monty Python? The British comedy group in - I think - the 70's which used to transition between their skits with “And now for something completely different....” And it always was pretty strange. Part of their appeal was that their humor was so totally off the wall, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 20:27-38

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

The Human Heart (Mark 7)

Contributed by I. Grant Spong on Jul 7, 2024

Do we add human traditions that overshadow or even disobey Jesus? Let's look at Mark 7.

What did Jesus say about using man-made traditions to disobey God’s commandments? Do evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, and foolishness defile us? Does Jesus still make the deaf to hear and give ...read more

Denomination: Baptist

First Impressions

Contributed by Michael Koplitz on Dec 3, 2024

Luke 7:36-39, Mary M. pours perfumed oil on Jesus' feet, is an example of how wrong one can be using only first impressions of another person.

First impressions Luke 7:36 – 39 Rabbi Rev. Dr. Michael H. Koplitz 36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 aAnd there was a woman in the city who was a 1sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-39

Denomination: United Methodist

Thirty-First Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A- Hypocrites

Contributed by Paul Andrew on Oct 8, 2023

We ask for the daily grace to walk the talk.

Have you heard the one about the priest, the minister, and the rabbi?” A rabbi and a priest were talking about the perks of each job. The priest mentioned that he gets a rectory to live in that comes with a housekeeper and a cook, all paid for by the church. The rabbi responded by asking if ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:1-12

Denomination: Catholic

Jesus Answering The First-Century "karens" He Encountered Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jul 13, 2025

All of them were survivors, in the strict sense, each party with its own quirks. The Pharisees stood behind the Law.

Friday of the Fifteenth Week in Course 2025 Have you ever wondered just why it was that the Pharisees, who seemed to be everywhere Jesus went, were such prigs? These days we might even call the “Karens,” although I’ve known real Karens and they weren’t so judgmental as the Pharisees. I think the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-8, Luke 9:3, Psalm 116:12-18, Exodus 11:10, Exodus 12:1-17  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Catholic

Believe

Contributed by Lou Nicholes on Oct 18, 2004

The willful unbelief of the Pharisees disturbed the Lord to the depths of His spirit.

THOUGHTS ABOUT THE PASSAGE: People refuse to believe that which they don’t want to believe, in spite of evidence. When explorers first went to Australia they found a mammal which laid eggs; spent some time in water, some on land; had a broad, flat tail, webbed feet, and a bill similar to a duck. ...read more

Scripture: Mark 8:10-21

Denomination: Baptist

A Sting In The Tail

Contributed by Revd. Martin Dale on Oct 20, 2004

Why was the tax collector more acceptable than the "good" Pharisee

OR/NR 24-10-04 Parable of the Pharisee & Tax Collector - Lk 18:9-14 Story: In a small country village in Sicily, there were two brothers, renown members of the local Mafia. They were mean, bad and very rich. No one had a good word to say about them. Indeed, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Anglican

Do Us A Trick Series

Contributed by Dale Miller on Feb 7, 2005

Jesus tells the Pharisees that the only sign that they will be given is the sign of Jonah.

MUB 2-6-05 MATT 12;38-41 38Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, "Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you." 39He answered, "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40For as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:38-41

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Beware Of The Yeast

Contributed by Bill Butsko on Oct 30, 2006

The leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees was in direct opposition to the unleavened "Bread of Life".

Text: “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees” (Matthew 16:6) NIV. Another word used in the place of “yeast” is the word “leaven”. Yeast is used in baking and causes the dough to rise or “puff up”. Yeast is really a living organism ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 16:6-12

Denomination: Christian Church

Blasphemy Of The Holy Spirit

Contributed by Dale Miller on Jan 29, 2005

Jesus is confronted by the Pharisees and is accused of casting out demons by Satan.

MUB 1.30.2005 MATT 12;22-28 22Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23All the people were astonished and said, "Could this be the Son of David?" 24But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, "It is only by ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:22-28

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ