Lent 2 – Sin, Sin, Sin - The Pharisees

Mark 2: 23-27 

John Foulds

‘Sin! Sin! Sin!’, sings Robbie Williams.  Like many people he seems to be making an automatic connection between sex and wrongdoing.

But why, I wonder, is sex the first thing that people think about when the concept of sin is mentioned? Why is a sexual act viewed with more concern than other matters which might also be considered sinful? What about sins of gossiping and criticising? Aren’t they harmful? Or what about failing to act for the ending of global poverty or injustice? Or for the protection of the environment? If we are going to talk about sin, then surely that is more relevant than fussing about another person’s lifestyle. 

It is, of course possible for sex to be used in a way that exploits someone else and hurts them. Then it is sin. Then it is wrong. Then there are legal and moral consequences. But there are no laws about gossip and putting people down. Such actions hurt people too but are rarely labelled sinful. Some might label a loving gay relationship as sinful but they wouldn’t label themselves as sinners for failing to mind their own business. And just look at our newspapers! They love to point the finger at someone’s mistake and pretend to be all shocked when really ‘sinners’ are their bread and butter! It smacks of hypocrisy - which brings me on to Jesus because he was very aware of hypocrisy in his daily experience of earthly life. 

Our readings today tell of encounters that Jesus had with the Pharisees. Now the Pharisees were the people who were responsible for applying the Jewish Laws to everyday life. They were like modern day advisors, if you like. The law taught that it was necessary to abstain from work on the Sabbath. This was to be a day of rest for the people and a day when they especially remembered their relationship with God. It was and is a nice thing and a good idea. But we learn today that some of the Pharisees were hypocritical because they used teaching about the Sabbath as a day of rest as a stick to beat Jesus with.

The Pharisees were clearly threatened by Jesus. We heard how he picked corn on the Sabbath. This they classed as work and was therefore forbidden on the Sabbath. He also healed a man on the day of rest too. Again the Pharisees were critical of what they saw as work. But while they were caught up in the details Jesus was seeing the bigger picture. He knew that the Sabbath was made for people and that it was not the other way around. The day of rest was supposed to be helpful and beneficial. What could be more wonderful than helping someone on such a day by bringing them healing or relieving a little hunger. Well, the Pharisees didn’t see it that way at all. They were very critical of Jesus on this issue and used Jesus’ actions on the Sabbath as an excuse to plot viciously against him. 

They may have felt they were being true to their faith and that they wanted to keep the Sabbath Day special and different from all the others. Or, maybe they were just trying to maintain their own power base and their own right to decide what was lawful for the people to do. However you see, it there doesn’t seem to be anything very holy about plotting the death of Jesus on the Sabbath Day and clearly this was what was in their hearts.

The heart of Jesus however was filled with very different emotions. We see today his desire to heal and nurture. He was keen to observe the true spirit of the law more than the letter of the law. He wanted to make people’s lives better. By his acts of healing he brought the people closer to God. The Jewish law was there to do precisely this so it is rather disturbing to find the Pharisees so critical of his Sabbath day activities. They claimed that he broke the laws but really misused their position in order to criticise Jesus and limit his influence that was understandably gaining popular appeal. They criticised him because they found him a threat. 

It is all too easy for us to make the same mistake .It is very easy to adopt the attitude of a Pharisee. We too can be overly critical. It is all too human to be critical of that which challenges us.  

Sometimes we might be feeling negative about ourselves and take it out on someone else in criticism. We might feel momentarily better by pointing out someone else’s fault but this feeling is unlikely to last very long. The chances are that if we find ourselves criticising other people then at some level whether we acknowledge it or not we are probably inwardly also criticising ourselves for something. It can all get pretty wearing. It is so negative to be on the receiving end of constant criticism. It can also be almost more wearing to be too self-critical. We can remember too the old saying:’ If you point the finger at someone else remember that there are three fingers pointing back at you’. 

As we make our way through Lent it is good to think about Jesus’ encounter with the Pharisees. While they were criticising, Jesus was healing and helping. He was also challenging the Pharisees to interpret the Jewish law in ways that would help the people come to know and experience God more deeply and lovingly in their daily lives. Jesus was clearly distressed by the stubborn hearts of the Pharisees because he wanted the people to know the liberating power of God’s love. He wasn’t disrespectful of the Jewish laws. He just wanted the people to experience the love that God intended for them. Jesus came to fulfil those laws and to teach the truth of God’s love for everyone.  

So this week let us be mindful of occasions when we can be overly critical. Let’s not give other people such a hard time. And let’s not beat ourselves up too much either. Rather think about Jesus and the joy that his healing touch brings. We are entitled to express our opinions of course. But let’s try and ensure that our thoughts are motivated by the example and spirit of Jesus.

Amen