It’s Easy to Be a Pharisee
July 29, 2018
Scripture: Job 20
Job 42:7: “After the Lord had spoken these words to Job, the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite: ‘My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.’”
I. Pharisees believe you always get what you deserve.
A. Zophar believes the cause of Job’s suffering is his sin. He does not believe it is possible to be innocent of any sin and suffering at the same time. So, he has no compassion. Zophar tells Job that because of his wickedness all of his joys in life will fade away (vs. 4-5). And Zophar seems to imply that Job is going to die prematurely because of his supposed sin in vs. 11. But Job was a righteous man. Zophar’s judgmental words toward Job were the words of a Pharisee.
B. Zophar then tells Job that he is going to be poisoned by the evil he is doing (vs. 12-14). Sin tastes sweet, but in the end, it turns out to be poison. It is as poisonous as a venomous snake. And in case you are wondering if Zophar is talking about Job enjoying such sin, look at vs. 15. Zophar accuses Job of having become rich through unjust means. But this was the judgment and false accusation of a Pharisee. Job was just getting what he deserved in Zophar’s opinion.
C. Zophar tells Job that the wrath of God was coming for him. In vs. 23 Zophar says of the wicked, “To fill his belly to the full, God will send his burning anger against him and rain it upon him into his body.” Then in vs. 26 we read, “a fire not fanned will devour him; what is left in his tent will be consumed.” But was it true that Job was a wicked man who was going to hell? No! This was simply the judgmental verdict of the Pharisee Zophar.
II. Pharisees have no compassion.
A. Zophar showed no compassion for Job. He did not listen to Job. He did not understand Job. He did not know that Job was a righteous and godly man. How do we show compassion to those who are suffering? If people are suffering because of their own sin, in compassion we should urge them to repent. There is always hope for suffering people because God is always merciful. 1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
B. A compassionate person reminds people that sometimes the innocent suffer in this world. Job was an innocent man. He had done nothing wrong to cause his suffering. Neither had Jesus. He suffered on the cross for us to give us God’s undeserved grace and mercy. 1 Peter 3:18: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” Sometimes it will be you who suffers as an innocent person. But if you are a Christian you have a glorious future that awaits you. Romans 8:16-17: “The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.” Followers of Jesus will suffer as innocent men and women. But the suffering will come to an end. And what will take its place? Glory!
Application:
Be compassionate and hold on to the glorious future given by your compassionate Jesus.
Sources:
The book of Job
Commentaries on Job by Christopher Ash and Francis Andersen