Sermons on Pharisee Rules:

The Problem With Religion That Looks Good Series

Contributed by Jim Butcher on Feb 18, 2010

This message looks at the problems that come with living your life to impress others.

A LIFE GOAL: Live your life so that people will say good things at your funeral. - The Pharisees were doing things for an audience of people. - Key phrase is v. 5a – “done for men to see” - Three examples: a. Phylacteries and tassels. - These were things talked about in OT ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:5-7

Denomination: Baptist

The Tale Of The Two "I” Exams (Sermon Theme Adapted From John Beehler)

Contributed by Daniel Habben on May 27, 2008

The Tale of the Two “I” Exams 1) “See me, God? I’m not like him.” 2) “Save me, God! I’m not like you.”

When is the last time you had an eye exam? Eye care experts recommend that we should have our eyes checked every one to three years depending on age, risk factors, and physical condition (allaboutvision.com). Regular eye exams are important because experts estimate that one in four school-age ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Lutheran

Too Full Of Yourself? Or Weighed Down By Shame?

Contributed by Warner Pidgeon on Feb 21, 2013

A short talk given at a baptism service. If we’re too full of ourselves then God desires humility. If we’re weighed down by sin, by shame, by guilt, and if we can pray, "God have mercy on me a sinner", God will restore us and lift us up.

Jesus told lots of challenging stories; and in the Church we tend to calls his stories parables. But why did Jesus use stories, parables, to communicate truth to his 1st century audience? Well, he used parables to paint a picture with a punchy, poignant, pertinent point. His pithy parables packed a ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Anglican

Reaction To The Resurrection Of Lazarus Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Nov 5, 2017

Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, and that miracle brought results. First of all and most important is that many believed on him. There were others that did not believe and they went back to Jerusalem to report this incident to the religious leaders.

Perea to Bethany Lesson: Reaction to the Resurrection of Lazarus John 11:45-54 (John 11:45-46) Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him. But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had ...read more

Scripture: John 11:45-54

Denomination: Baptist

Not To Be Called Rabbi, Father Or Teacher? How's That? Series

Contributed by W Pat Cunningham on Jan 25, 2020

Not only did the Son of Man come to serve, not to be served, He insisted that the ones who follow Him take that as the pattern of life.

Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Course 2020 St. Thomas Aquinas This Gospel from a late chapter in St. Matthew’s Gospel has caused a great deal of ink to be spilled, especially in the dialogue or dispute between Catholics and Protestants. Catholics call priests “Father,” and the pope the “Holy Father.” ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:8-12

Denomination: Catholic

Love Does Not Condone But Love Loves

Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Jan 29, 2019

How many people will be in Hell because we chose not to win them or told them that some sin we deemed unpardonable blocked them from coming to Him?

2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6 And ...read more

Scripture: 2 Peter 1:4-9

Denomination: Baptist

Part-Time Christians

Contributed by Rick Boyne on Nov 7, 2011

We are either born-again, or we are not; there is no in-between.

Part-time Christians November 6, 2011 Morning Service Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK Rick Boyne Message Point: We are either born-again, or we are not; there is no in-between. Focus Passage: Matthew 23:23-28 Supplemental Passage: But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:23-28

Denomination: Baptist

The Danger Of Comparative Righteousness Series

Contributed by Roshelle Brenneise on Jun 6, 2021

Thank God I Am NOT LIKE............

February 06, 2021 The Context: “To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told a story”: The Parable {Luke 18:10-14}: "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14

Denomination: Seventh-Day Adventist

The Christian And Fasting Series

Contributed by Grant Adams on Nov 26, 2019

Perhaps, the most misunderstood and most misapplied teaching in the Bible is the teaching of fasting.

The Christian and Fasting Matthew 6:16-18 Perhaps, the most misunderstood and most misapplied teaching in the Bible is the teaching of fasting. Down through the ages, it has been a method of displaying something on the outside that was supposed to be prevalent on the inside. It supposedly used to ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 6:16-18

Denomination: Baptist

Disregarding Tradition And Taboo (Matthew 15:1-39)

Contributed by Donald Whitchard on Aug 20, 2025

In this chapter, we read about the Lord Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees yet again, and of His mercy to a Gentile woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon.

Coming from Jerusalem, the Pharisees asked Jesus why His disciples did not perform the traditional ritual of washing one’s hands before eating. This ceremony had been established by the “elders” and had nothing to do with hygiene alone, but was instead an elaborate ritual that involved not only ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 15:1-39, Isaiah 29:13, Mark 7:24-30, Mark 8:1-9

Denomination: Baptist

Dinner At Simon’s House (Luke 7) Series

Contributed by Jonathan Spurlock on Dec 2, 2025

A Pharisee named Simon invited Jesus to share a meal. Something out of the ordinary happened while that meal was taking place!

Dinner at Simon’s House (Luke 7) Introduction: Jesus was at Nain according to Luke 7:11. While He was there, He brought a dead man back to life and also reassured the disciples of John the Baptist that He was truly the Messiah, the One Who should come. After this, a Pharisee named Simon asked ...read more

Scripture: Luke 7:36-50

Denomination: Baptist

"Be On Your Guard, Don’t Be Fooled”

Contributed by Clarence Eisberg on Nov 13, 2024

What a year we have experienced! People worried. Will there be a peace transition of power? It seems the world is on fire...wars and rumors of war. Will there be peace? In Mark 13 Jesus tells about the future destruction of Jerusalem.

In Jesus Holy Name November 17, 2024 Text: Mark 13:1-2 Pentecost XXVI Redeemer “Be On Your Guard, Don’t Be Fooled” What a week it’s been for all of us! This has been one of those rare ...read more

Scripture: Mark 13:1-8, Matthew 24:1-14, Luke 21:5-36

Denomination: Lutheran

God’s Great Love For Humble Sinners Series

Contributed by John Bright on Jun 23, 2023

Working through the Gospel of Luke using consecutive expository preaching. Teaching sheet included at end of text.

“God’s Great Love for Humble Sinners” Luke 18:9-14 Pastor John Bright Luke 18 “9 Jesus also told this parable to some who were confident that they were righteous and looked down on everyone else. 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The ...read more

Scripture: Luke 18:9-14, Matthew 6:5

Denomination: Methodist

The Marks Of Sinful Criticism. Series

Contributed by Shaila Touchton on Mar 4, 2024

May we use our speech to edify and save, rather than tearing down and destroying. Let us strive to be constructive critics, speaking truth in love, for the glory of God.

we are going to explore the marks of sinful criticism, which are contrasted with the characteristics of constructive counsel. Sinful criticism, also known as faultfinding, is a behavior that we must be aware of and avoid in our Christian walk. Firstly, let us examine the motives behind our words ...read more

Scripture: Romans 13:10, Genesis 37:4, Job 12:1-3, 1 Corinthians 14:3

Out Of Sight...

Contributed by Alison Bucklin on Jul 4, 2023

God can see us all the time, whether we acknowledge him or not.

How many of you have played peek-a-boo with a baby? Fun, isn’t it? But eventually they figure out that you can see them even when they can’t see you, and the thrill goes away. It’s a control thing, I think... they’re learning that what they do has an effect on their environment, and sometimes it ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 21:33-46

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed