| ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ( D ) PHARISEES, SADDUCEES AND SCRIBES In this scriptural examination of the reprobate person, Jesus’ conclusions about the religious leaders of His day reveals their falsehood and deception as they had a form of godliness but in reality denied the power of godliness. Jesus’ conclusions also reveal the true manner of fruit and result of these reprobates; 15. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. - Matt. 23:15 13. Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: - Isaiah 29:13 6. And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. - Matt. 15:6-9 6. He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. - Mark 7:6-9 13. Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. - Mark 7:13 42. Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. 43. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. 44. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 45. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. 46. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? 47. He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. - John 8:42-47 The words of Jesus provide the evidence of religious people who have only a form of godliness in regard to outside appearances. But on the inside, which can’t be seen by human eyes but rather only by the eyes of God ( 1 Samuel 16:7 / John 7:24 ), these religious people who profess God are in reality void of any fellowship and relationship with God whom they profess to know. In reality, these people are not of God but their father is the devil, the deceiver. Even the converts whom these religious reprobate people acquire actually end up being two times more the children of hell than the reprobate religious people themselves. It is all a false show and deceptive appearance which will only end in damnation and eternal torment. Once again, let us not forget that a reprobate person, according to the scriptural instruction, is someone in whom Christ does not live nor have Lordship. A reprobate person is devoid of God and of Christ in their life. Such were the religious enemies of Jesus’ day. They were in reality the children of the devil. Jesus used this description of these people; 27. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. - Matt. 23:27-28 Indeed, the reprobate person looks and sounds good and godly on the outside. But appearances can certainly be deceptive. The words of the prophet Isaiah state; 20. Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! - Isaiah 5:20 Due to this kind of evil deception, Jesus gave us this warning; 24. Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. - John 7:24 Now that the scriptures reveal who the reprobate is, how then does the Christian obtain the knowledge and the understanding discernment in order to guard against such destructive and deceptive people? With the Word of God. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- |