"...... the Pharisees took counsel how they might entangle Him..."(Matt.22:15)
Why are the Pharisees so bent to put Jesus down?
The Pharisees emerged in Early Jewish History beginning from the Maccabean Revolt of 169-159 BCE.
chart/map 1 1(a) 1(b)
The Maccabeans strongly opposed the intrusion of Hellenistic/Greek Culture into Judaism. And very likely also - they saw the Hasmonean Movement of 140 BCE as an opportunity towards National Renewal and the Restoration of the Strict Observance of the Torah.
Old Testament Jewish History spoke of Priests and Scribes - until the Maccabean Period. Thereafter, they broke off.
And each sect became the more distinct. At this point in their history, we learn about the Sadducees and the Pharisees.
* the Sadducees came from the ranks of the Priests; whilst
* the Pharisees came from the Scribes.
Hereafter - the Pharisees became the Legal Custodian of the Torah; whilst
- the Sadducees were the more concerned about Status and Social Standing.
(see the Torah Scroll and the Fragment 2)
Their contrasting traits became the more pronounced during Greek Civilisation and Culture under Alexander the Great.
Strongly opposing any form of Greek Hellenisation, the Pharisees severed their ties with the Maccabeas.
Herein come the Dramatic Point:
* the Pharisees, as a group, became the Champion Exponents of the Torah.
Scribes, professional teachers of the Torah, were Pharisees.
Priests (only some) were Pharisees.
Zealots, extreme fanatics against Rome, were the left wing branch of the Pharisees.
All 4 Gospels depict the Pharisees only when they were in open conflict with Jesus.
The Pharisees were angered by Christ's Note of Authority (Matt 7:29)
Even the common people noted His Authority.
Matters became worse - when Jesus stressed that He came from - and spoke from God.
The Pharisees felt offended. They were men of learning - top scholars of their regime - whilst Jesus was but a village carpenter from Nazareth - a product from their synagogue schools.
Relationships soured up the more when Jesus claimed to be one with God and that no one can embrace God but by Him.
Henceforth, they came to dislike Jesus. If you dislike a person - whatever he does or says - gets twisted to suit your prejudices.
* Jesus' Note of Authority was interpreted - as a blasphemy. "He puts Himself in the place of God"
* Jesus' Note of Universalism - as Traitorism. "This man is not loyal to His own race"
* Jesus' Indifference to some of their Puritanical Ways - as morally dangerous.
Jesus invited Himself to the home of Zacchaeus.
Only Luke records this strange encounter. And the whole impact of this familiar story lies in that one meeting - Zacchaeus meeting Jesus face to face - over a meal together.
Zacchaeus was determined to see Jesus.
Being short - as well as the massive crowds - he resorted to climbing the Sycamore/wild fig tree. Jesus pointedly came to that spot... And Jesus invited Himself .. to Zaccheus home.
That 'table fellowship'....... redeemed Zaccheus Past; it re-directed Zaccheus Future. The End of the Zaccheus Story - is God's Beginning.
The 'outsider' of being a Publican. Like the Pharisee, the Publican appears only in the Gospels. None at all in the N.T. And they're often linked with sinners - prostitutes - Gentiles.
Jesus' Parable of the Pharisee & the Publican portray significantly and contrastingly their places in the then society.
* the Publican humbly admits his low status whilst
* the Pharisee sarcastically boasts of his respectability - and despising the Publican as an outcast.
Who were the Publicans?
They were native Jews in the provinces of Judea of ancient Rome who 'collect' public taxes for revenue for the hated pagan regime of dictatorial Rome. They set up their 'offices' along the main roads - like the PLUS stops in West Malaysia and the Sea Ports - like Singapore's Jurong Point.
Abuses arose due to the system.
The Roman Senate farm out Direct Taxes to Capitalists - who undertook to put a Given Sum into the Treasury - in publicum.
So great a task .... brought about a Joint Stock Company - with Divisions and Sub Divisions ... down to the Customhouse Officers. These are the Publicans.
And very often, these publicans - 'pushed' by their superiors in fraudulent actions
* overcharged(Luke 3:13)
* brought false charges of smuggling - then extract 'hush money'(Luke 19:8)
Violence was sometimes used.
It came as no surprise that the Publicans were regarded as traitors and apostates.
They were practically excommunicated.... and Zaccheus was the chief tax collector ... in Jericho. And/Yet Jesus befriended Zaccheus. The Puritanical Pharisees were shocked...
(See photo of the Pharisees.... no. 3)
The problem ... was apparently made worse in Judea - because of the religious element in the National Resistance against Occupied Oppression.
Zacchaeus had reached the top of his career....; but he was the most hated man then.
Observe the humaness in Jesus: Pity. Kindness - as against the Contempt - Self Righteous of the Pharisees.
* the Law addresses itself to the act..
* Jesus is the more concerned with the thought/heart.
In Les Miserables Drama it was the kindness of a good old bishop which changed Jean Valjean and transformed his life. A galley slave to a town mayor.
To show that he was a changed man... Zacchaeus made compensations - restitutions beyond what was legally necessary. Testimonies are worthless - unless backed by deeds.
And what I find most compelling and appropriate is Zacchaeus Iron Determination to regain - the loss of his self-respect.
For all his wealth... Zacchaeus yearned to be treated - even just once - like a human being.
Jesus made the first move(verse 5) - and Zaccheus found his Self-Respect - again.
(Picture of Jericho: See Map no. 4)
Passing through Samaria - a Gentile Territory.
Because of His growing popularity, crowds - mostly Jews - thronged Jesus.
And Jesus needed a break. In Gentile territory, no Jew would dare follow Jesus.
And this is first time - that Jesus went up North - as reported by the Gospels.
And perchance or by fate - Jesus encountered this outcast and morally depraved of a Samaritan woman.
John 4:1-9 paints someting mysterious about this Samaritan woman. She came to that well at Sychar(v.5) - which was more than half a mile away from Samaria.
.... she was a moral outcast - that even the village women drove her away from the village well.....
And like Zacchaeus - Jesus initiated the first move.
Jesus asked her to give Him a drink. She was shocked. "You are a Jew - yet you are asking a drink from one who is an outcast."
What dialogue transpired between a surprised outcast of a Samaritan and a friendly, kind Jewish teacher ... is not reported in detail.
No matter how we rationalise ... we cannot help but 'see' that Jesus is offering to this marginalised outcast of the Samaritan woman
* a Unity in Diversity and
* a New Humanity in the Caring of People.
Here is Love Beyond Limits. Through this Magnanimous Jesus
* Shame is Transformed into a New Triumphant Life
- no longer the Pursuance to Dominant Status Quo but a New Creative Spirit of New Values.
* A New Humanity emerges - leaving behind the Destructive Racial, Religious Barriers that destroy.
The Centuries-Old Feud between Jews & Samaritans
In 720BC the Assyrians invaded Samaria, the Northern Kingdom - and transferred practically the whole population to Media(2 Kings 17:6)
Then the Assyrians brought into Samaria other peoples - from Babylon - Cuthah - Ava - Hamath - Sepharvaim...(2 Kings 17:24)
The minority, left behind, intermarried with the incoming foreigners.
So the Jews of the Northern Kingdom lost their Racial Purity.
Besides... the vast majority transported to Babylon never came back. They were the Lost Ten Tribes.....
But a Remnant came back. And Foreigners from Syria and Mesopotamia also arrived. Most of these non-Jewish settlers adopted Judaism
- but they recognised only the Pentateuch/the first 5 books of the O.T. - causing Hostility with the Jews.
.... that one encounter - and asking of a drink - and drinking together. Again, no details were given. In all likelihood, the outcast must have unburdened her hurtful and tortured soul to this Stranger from Galilee.
How else would Jesus knew of - her tangled domestic affairs.
* the Samaritan - and a woman at that found in the most unlikely circumstances - a kind heart instead of the critical purity and superiority from a Jew.
* the Samaritan woman opened her heart; she found kindness in His eyes..... Jesus listened with understanding to a sorry story. And Jesus broke through the barriers of Nationality and Jewish custom.
Conclusion: the Great Divide
The proud arrogant Pharisees drove a wedge between themselves and the People of the Land.
Nicknamed 'Separatists' in their Upholding of the Law - they ended up being the Great Divide and giving the Fragrane of Superiority.
Keep reminding yourself..
* the Pharisees were Good People.... yet they present the most terrible illustration in all history of
How Good People Can Go Wrong.
Pastor Edwin Khoo
