Pharisaic Moralism

Purpose Media Productions

Historical-Bibliological Background or Origin of Moralism

Definition of Moralism

Moralism, though not explicitly found in the Bible, expresses a theological worldview of attempting to reach God or earn salvation by being good and living according to a certain moral code or standard- regulations. In simple terms, salvation earned by merit through good works.

In contrast to Moralism, the Scriptures tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God Rom. 3:23. If God were to mark iniquity, whom (I say none) can stand Psalm 130:4. But the goodnews is that there is forgiveness with God through our Lord Jesus Christ that by faith we are saved and if it is by grace, we have no reason to boast or glory in His presence Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 4:1-2.

Pharisaic Moralism or Legalism

At about 4AD, Jesus contended earnestly with a group of religious leaders called Pharisees. They were people given to and committed to the interpretation of the law. Saul of Tarsus was privileged to have been trained by a leading Pharisee called Gamaliel. They believed that strictly adhering to the law was to bring salvation, the kingdom of God in it’s materialistic form with prosperity attached.

On one occasion, the Pharisees were in controversy with Jesus as a result of the healing of a blind man in John 9:1-11. In verse 39, Jesus said,

For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.

They asked Jesus a question that did you mean to say we are blind? Jesus responded and said to them:

If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, “We see.” Therefore your sins remains.

A fundamental fault with the Pharisaic theology is a foundational, the universality of sin. Human at its best is corrupt and depraved. Paul says that there is nothing good in me Rom. 7:18. Jesus pointed to them that those who acknowledge their sins will have salvation but because they claim to be whole and pure, they remain in their sins verse 39, 41.

The Pharisees as a result of their faulty theology always exhibited a self righteous attitude to which Jesus warns that if our righteousness does not exceed those of the Pharisees and Saducees, we cannot enter the kingdom of God Matt. 5:20. The Pharisees are so zealous and religious that they dress in a particular way, pray, fast and give alms (all the externals of religion). It is difficult to find a Pharisee engaging in adultery and some other sins like that young ruler who came to Jesus to ask what good thing he needs to do to enter the kingdom of heaven. Jesus responded that he knows the law. He asked which because he was confident that if it was by the requirements of the law, he would not be found wanting. Paul also attested this as part of his criteria in his former conversation of life that as regards righteousness that comes from the law, he was blameless Phil. 3:5-6. The Pharisees were also zealous for serving God. They never joked with the Sabbath. Infact, that was part of their controversy with Jesus that he never observed the Sabbath the way the law prescribes. My question is, if the Pharisees have these “good” qualities, why is Jesus saying that they cannot enter the kingdom of God?

In their self righteousness, they rejected Christ their saviour. They rejected Jehovah Tsidkennu, the Lord our righteousness for their own self righteousness which is nothing but a filthy rag before God. There was a time Jesus was telling them that they are sinful just like their fathers who killed the prophets and servants of God. What was their response? If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have killed the prophets. But what did they do at last, they killed Jesus, the Son of God. Their fathers killed servants of God, they killed the Son of God.

Any teaching that makes any external act the basis of salvation is in error. This is the error of many professing Holiness preachers and folktales of heaven and hell vision. Salvation is Christ centered not appearance centred. It is true that when one is saved, it reflects in the appearance, that itself is a reality but salvation judged merely by appearance is a fallacy.

Jesus also gave a parable in Luke 18 on the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee justified himself priding his good works before God, his zeal, commitment and self righteousness while the tax collector admitted his humble and sinful state. Jesus concluded the story by saying the tax collector went home justified. Jesus illustrates that we are all sinners needing God’s grace and mercy. We are not sinners because we sin, we are sinners by nature.

Any sect or person that claims superiority or holier than thou attitude is not far from the Pharisaic Moralism or Legalism. If the spring of righteousness is based on the fact that I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t fornicate and so on or I dress decently and don’t put on ear rings. Such might appear near to the kingdom of God but is far and cannot enter.

Verily, verily I say unto you, except a man is born again. He cannot see the kingdom of God.

© Purpose Media Publications, 2020