Both …sincere, committed, self-sacrificing. Preaching the truth as they under stood it. and trying to serve God the best way they knew how.

And yet . . . diametrically opposite to one another in almost every respect. Different priorities, different values.

WHO WERE THEY?

One group . . . Zealous for their faith, praying fasting, prostelytizing, setting an exmple. Surely God would love that! Surey God would love that ? And yet Jesus criticisedd them constantly. Why? Too much religion, not enough caring! These were the scribes, and the Pharisees.

An the other group … more relaxed, no striving, a deep mental peace. They knew hey were loved and so were se tree to love others. Who were they? These were the disciples and followers of Jesus.

Is it any different today?

In fact could it be any different today?

Human nature hasn’t changed.
The drive to degenerate into rule-keeping and trying to earn favour never goes away.

In the Church you will always have both—the Pharisees and the true believers. And the one will always be causing trouble for the other.

How to Survive?