Sermons on Pharisees Warning:

The Prodigal Son's Brother

Contributed by Sean Harder on Jul 6, 2012

Chapter 15 of Luke is the start of a new discussion as Jesus makes his way into Jerusalem to fulfill his ultimate sacrificial mission. It begins with the Scribes and Pharisees grumbling because Jesus always allowed sinners to listen to him and eat with hi

This would be similar to having a pastor who spent most of his time trying to reach the lost while neglecting those in the congregation who are just sitting around trying to be Holy. Often the people who are just in church to be served are the ones who complain when they don’t get enough of ...read more

Scripture: Luke 15:11-32

Give God What Is His (October 22, 2017).

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Aug 14, 2020

Why were the Pharisees wanting to try to trick Jesus? The reason why they wanted to try and trick Jesus was because Jesus’s authority rivaled their own! In trying to force Jesus to choose a side, they hoped to get Jesus to incriminate Himself.

GIVE GOD WHAT IS HIS Text: Matthew 22:15 - 22 How many times have you heard someone say something like, “I only have to do two things, pay taxes and die”? Now they even have a new tax added on which is called by some a “death tax” which means that they tax the estate that is on by a ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22

Denomination: United Methodist

Jesus Predicts His Death Series

Contributed by Scott Maze on Jun 12, 2021

Think of it: Jesus marshaled no army and He carried no weapon. Jesus never used His miraculous powers to throw the Pharisees off the nearest cliff. Yet, the threat of Jesus was so great, He often made enemies into allies:

A New York Times editorial claims that America’s views on the death penalty are changing. 35 people were put to death in 2014 which was the fewest in 20 years. And 2014 marked a nearly 40 year low in the number of new criminals placed on death row. While the method of execution may have changed, ...read more

Scripture: Luke 9:7-9, Luke 13:31-35

Denomination: Baptist

Apostasy Of The Christian Heart

Contributed by Stan Lobin on Oct 26, 2022

An examination of the Jesus parable of the prayers of the Pharisee and the tax collector and Christians who respond look and react to our others harshly with gossip and other negative that defy God's commandment to love our neighbor as we love ourselves.

Apostasy of the Christian Heart When we become Christians, the Bible tells us that we receive Christ into our hearts. I believe that means that a Christian should possess a Christ-like heart; a heart that desires to please God and a desire to be obedient to God’s commandments and ...read more

Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:16-18, Luke 18:9-14, Jeremiah 14:7, 1 John 4:20

Mercy Instead Of Sacrifice

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Mar 11, 2022

The Pharisees criticized Jesus for eating with tax collectors. They thought they were better than Matthew, as they went around acting holy. Outward show doesn’t determine a person’s relationship with God. It's about the heart.

This morning I am going to touch on the subject of “hypocrisy.” It’s difficult to preach on this subject matter because none of us are without some form of hypocrisy in our life. Jesus told us not to point out the splinter in our brother’s eye until we have removed the log in our own eye (Matthew ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13

Denomination: Baptist

Be Practical, Not Legalistic Series

Contributed by D. Dewaine Phillips on Oct 30, 2021

Jesus taught the Pharisees how He desires sincere love for people over meaningless ritual, and how He desires grace over legalism. Those who adhere to ritual and tradition are often unable to love others or worship God.

In our message today, we will see how Jesus taught the Pharisees that forgiveness and grace toward others is a necessity before worship. The capacity to extend love and mercy is something that must be present in a person’s heart before he or she is able to worship the Lord in spirit and truth, as ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 12:1-8

Denomination: Baptist

How To Avoid The Worst Woes In Life - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Rick Crandall on Feb 3, 2023

1. Don't just care how you look. Care how you live (vs. 25-28). 2. Don't compare yourself to other people. Compare yourself to God (vs. 29-32). 3. Don't be condemned. Become a child of God (vs. 33). 4. Don't reject God's Word. Receive it! (vs. 34-36).

How to Avoid the Worst Woes in Life - Part 2 The Gospel of Matthew Matthew 23:25-36 Sermon by Rick Crandall (Prepared February 3, 2023) BACKGROUND: *In 1 John 4 the Bible tells us twice that "God is love." And thank God that's true! Our God is full of love, grace, and tender mercy ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 23:25-36

Denomination: Baptist

Sin Is A Heart Problem! Series

Contributed by T.j. Conwell on Aug 3, 2014

How God tells you to live is infinitely more important than how others think you should live! This is what Pharisees couldn't grasp. The challenge for us also is: Do not get a big head about it and become arrogant and/or unteachable.

Sin … It’s a Heart Problem! Mark 7:8-23, 1 John 1:8-10 Introduction - Jesus is demonstrated in this book as a “servant” -- Key verse: Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for ...read more

Scripture: Mark 7:8-23

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Hard Words To Hard People In Hard Times Series

Contributed by C. Philip Green on Nov 20, 2025

If you want God to use you to powerfully communicate His message to hard people in hard times, eat God’s Word. speak God’s Word, follow God’s Spirit, and warn God’s people.

Our former district superintendent, Bill Smith, recalls preaching part-time in a small local church while he was still studying for the ministry. Six months passed and none of his professors had come to hear him. Finally, his faculty advisor agreed to attend one Sunday. After the service, the ...read more

Scripture: Ezekiel 3:1-21

Denomination: Evangelical Free

Sermon # 28 - Discerning Prophecies Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Nov 22, 2024

Jonah was a prophet of God sent with a prophetic word for the people of Nineveh. In today’s context, ‘How can we discern who is a true prophet of God and who are false?’ God’s word gives us clear instructions on how to test and treat prophecies.

We read in Jonah 3:3-4, “So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of Jehovah. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city, of three days' journey. And Jonah began to enter into the city a day's journey, and he cried, and said, Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be ...read more

Scripture: Jonah 3:3-4, 2 Peter 3:9, 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21, 1 Kings 13:4, 1 Thessalonians 5:20, 1 Corinthians 14:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Mark 10:9, 1 Corinthians 13:2, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:1  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

As In The Days Of Noah

Contributed by Rev. Samuel Arimoro on Feb 21, 2025

The days of Noah serve as a prophetic warning for our time. The moral decay, spiritual complacency, and rejection of God’s truth seen in Noah’s generation are evident today. Jesus said that just as the flood came suddenly, so will His return be.

AS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH By Rev. Samuel Arimoro Main Text: Matthew 24:37-39 "But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 24:37-39, Genesis 6:5-8, 2 Peter 3:3-7, Luke 17:26-30, Hebrews 11:7, 2 Timothy 3:1-5  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Three Places

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Oct 1, 2025

In this journey of faith there are three places that we can find ourselves in – a place of bondage, a place of wandering or a place of promise. Each of us can introspect to see where we are and move forward in faith to reach the place of promise, to fulfill God’s purposes

Today’s meditation is based on Joshua 21:43, “So the LORD gave all of the land to Israel that he had promised to give their ancestors, and they took possession and settled there in it.” (ERV) The Lord gave the people of Israel the land that he had promised to their ancestors, and they duly took ...read more

Scripture: Joshua 21:43, Exodus 1:13-14, Deuteronomy 29:5-6, Exodus 14:10-11, Joshua 3:14-16, Matthew 11:28  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Other

New Testament Legalism Series

Contributed by Richard Tow on Aug 17, 2020

Message expounds Philippians 3:1-7 explaining the problem of Legalism as defined by the New Testament. The ceremonial law in the Old Covenant was fulfilled in Christ and is not required of believers. The moral law is reiterated in the New Covenant.

We are in a study of Philippians. Our text today is Philippians 3:1-7. Last week we talked from that text about the value of warnings. God warns us because He loves us. Like a loving parent He guides us away from danger into a meaningful life of blessings. To despise God’s warnings is one of the ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 9:16-17, 1 Kings 18:28, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Revelation 21:1-8, Colossians 2:16-17, Acts 18:21, Romans 10:3  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Charismatic

Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid Series

Contributed by John Lowe on Feb 17, 2014

We all deal with fear, and in the time in which we are now living, fear is multiplied over and over. The warning to “fear not” is frequently repeated in Scripture. Fear is described as bondage, torment, and a snare.

Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid Psalm 27 Written 9-11-06 First message in a series called “The Overcoming Life.” Introduction What makes you afraid? Darkness? But the Lord is your light. Danger? He is also your salvation. Lack of a basic need? He is your strength. Then why be ...read more

Scripture: Psalm 27:1-14

Denomination: Baptist

Train Your Conscience - Part 2 Series

Contributed by Andrew Dixon on Nov 22, 2021

The Lord warns us that our eyes should be trained to be pure. Many are struggling with the sins of the eyes, because while there is much restriction as to what one can do with their hands and legs, there is no restraint set as to what one can do with their eyes.

Train your conscience - Part 2 In the past few chapters, we have delved deep into the subject of our conscience. To summarize briefly, we understand that our conscience is placed inside of us by God Himself, it is God’s gift to us, which serves as our internal audit to help us be aware of what is ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:28

Denomination: Other