Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. John 3:1 WEB

This scripture begins a section in chapter three of John’s gospel in which Jesus teaches a Pharisee named Nicodemus the importance of spiritual rebirth. Seemingly speaking for a larger contingent of the Pharisees Nicodemus says in John 3:2, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him. WEB” Jesus rescinded in John 3:3 saying, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom. WEB” What follows demonstrates the Pharisees’ difficulty in understanding the spiritual aspect of God. 

Rules Made by Men

Although outwardly appearing devoted to God, inwardly the Pharisees were slaves to worldly concerns. They often valued their traditions more than actual godliness. As an example of this, Pharisees questioned Jesus in Matthew 15:2 saying, “Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread. WEB” In response to this, Jesus addressed the crowd in Matthew 15:10-11 saying, “Hear, and understand. That which enters into the mouth doesn’t defile the man; but that which proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man. WEB”

Further, Christ stresses the vanity of  man made rules in the worship of God. The Lord says of the Pharisees  in Matthew 15:7-9, “You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men. WEB” This is a reference to prophecy from Isaiah 29:13.

In the gospel of John, Nicodemus struggles to understand Jesus’ message concerning the importance of being born again in the Spirit. Although reported as a ruler of the Jews and certainly a well respected religious leader of his time, Nicodemus did not yet grasp the meaning of the true worship required of God. Instead, the Pharisees ruled over others by the creation of strict man made rules that sometimes even violated the commands of our heavenly Father. 

The Law and the Prophets

The Pharisees were extremely legalistic. Their enthusiasm for the law led them to add tremendous burdens of legalistic practices to Jewish life while sometimes ignoring the greater things of God. On the other hand, Jesus simplified the understanding of God’s laws. As Jesus says in Matthew 11:30, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. WEB” 

Unlike the overly legalistic decrees of the Pharisees, Jesus cut right to the heart of our spiritual obligation to God and man. The Lord summed up the entire law in very few words. Jesus taught in Matthew 22:37-41, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. A second likewise is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments. WEB”

Yesterday’s Devotional: You Are a Prophet