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The Kingdom Seen and Unseen: Expectations Part II
The folly of the Pharisees
Aaron Boyle
December 03, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
Recap: Welcome back to Theophilus. Yesterday we began the In the Throes of Expectation series where we explore the power expectations have on how we view Jesus. Today we’ll explore the example of the Pharisees and how their view of the Messiah impacted their response to the Kingdom in their midst.
Missed previous emails in the series? No worries, you can read all the emails we sent online by clicking here.
“The Kingdom of God is within you.”
So wrote the 19th century Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy who was himself quoting a translation of Jesus.
Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is! or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among [or “within”] you.”
The very question “When is the kingdom of God coming?” was likely intended as a trap to either expose Jesus’ lack of knowledge or oust Him as a false teacher. Yet Jesus is unphased by it.
He gives them an answer that turns the tables, implying that the Pharisees are unable to see the Kingdom before them.
The Pharisees
The Pharisees don’t have the best reputation… and there’s a reason for that.
The Pharisees in the Gospel are portrayed as religious conservatives who have fallen into fundamentalism, legalism, and nationalism.
This, in turn, influenced how they interpreted prophecies about the coming Messiah.
To them, the Messiah was to be the champion of their nationalism. A political figure who would deliver Israel from the oppression of Rome and exalt them as God’s chosen nation over the Earth.
It doesn’t take a hermeneutics degree to see that Jesus was a far cry from this.
A homeless, without formal education, desert preacher. A man who preached love for enemies instead of rebellion against the Empire. The kind of person who seemed, from the Pharisees’ point of view, to subvert the very teachings of the Law.
This was the guy claiming to be the figure they’d waited so long for.
The Pharisees’ expectations had taken such a deep root within them that, in their minds, there was no way they could be wrong about the Messiah.
And they weren’t willing to let Jesus prove them wrong.
Blind Leaders
There’s a part of the Pharisees’ story that’s off-putting to me personally. I’m a pastor meaning, like the Pharisees, I’m a “religious leader.”
And, yet, despite their vast knowledge of Scripture and the many messianic prophecies that came with it, when the actual Messiah was in their midst they were unable to see Him.
Surely if anyone would’ve been able to recognize Jesus it was them right?
I wonder how many of today’s religious leaders have the same problem without realizing it?
Or how many self-professed Christians have the same problem?
Careful that the pulpit not become too high.
That’s exactly what we’ll tackle tomorrow.
Application: What are some of your expectations for Jesus? Think about how these might affect the way you view and engage with Him.
For now, be blessed.
Jon,
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