| PhariseeChurch.com What is the Pharisee Principle? |
NO, NOT THE TOMBS OF THE PROPHETS! This is the 8th century monastery of Skelligmichael, a part of the massive Christian legacy of St Patrick, the British man* who was so instrumental in converting Ireland to Christianity. The monastery is situated on a remote rocky outcrop in the Atlantic off the west coast of Ireland, the island of Skellig Major. Just visible between two of the beehive dwellings - and shown clearly in the middle ground of the second photo below - is the sister island of Skellig Minor. This gives a good idea of what the site of the monastery is like - Major is a bit bigger than Minor, but not much. In the hazy background behind the island the mainland of Ireland can just be made out. I admire the tenacity of the monks who eked out a spartan existence on this remote outpost. At the same time I find myself wondering, is this isolated lifestyle really what God has called us to? For more weird churches, click HERE |
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| Understanding the Pharisee Principle |
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and
you say,‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part
with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered
the prophets.
Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you
will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to
town.
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from
the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Hezekiah, whom you
murdered between the temple and the altar.
(Matthew 23. 29-31, 34-38)
These words are taken from Jesus' diatribe against the Pharisees, the best-known
version of which is recorded in Matthew's gospel.
What's the point here?
Simply this.
The Pharisees, meaning those who actually called themselves by that name, lived for a
couple of hundred years round about the time of Jesus. Then the name died out.
But the principle is an ongoing, permanent one. It recurs in every generation, in every
period of history.
It was there to kill Abel, Jesus tells us. It was there to kill Zechariah (about 750 BC). It
runs through the whole of history, and it's here today, in new guises, posing the same
threat that it always did.
version of which is recorded in Matthew's gospel.
What's the point here?
Simply this.
The Pharisees, meaning those who actually called themselves by that name, lived for a
couple of hundred years round about the time of Jesus. Then the name died out.
But the principle is an ongoing, permanent one. It recurs in every generation, in every
period of history.
It was there to kill Abel, Jesus tells us. It was there to kill Zechariah (about 750 BC). It
runs through the whole of history, and it's here today, in new guises, posing the same
threat that it always did.
We need to understand it, recognized it and deal with it - as it was
then and as it is now.
Click HERE to move on.
then and as it is now.
Click HERE to move on.
* Sorry to disappoint all those millions who believe that
Patrick was an Irishman, and each year celebrate his
anniversary in ways he might not entirely have approved.
Patrick was kidnapped from his home in what is now probably
Wales as a boy and sold into slavery in Ireland. There it was
that he came into the knowledge of God that was to sustain
him through his life. After a number of years of slavery he
escaped, and after many adventures was able to get himself a
monastic training in France and finally return to Ireland to
convert the Irish to Christianity.
Patrick was an Irishman, and each year celebrate his
anniversary in ways he might not entirely have approved.
Patrick was kidnapped from his home in what is now probably
Wales as a boy and sold into slavery in Ireland. There it was
that he came into the knowledge of God that was to sustain
him through his life. After a number of years of slavery he
escaped, and after many adventures was able to get himself a
monastic training in France and finally return to Ireland to
convert the Irish to Christianity.