Have you ever encountered someone who accuses you of many bad attitudes that others have not seen in you?
It is common for narcissists to assign to us their own sinful character. They cannot repent or face their sin to confess it to be cleansed because of pride so they accuse others of their own sinful attitude and reactions.
We are seeing more of this because we are living in the end times. Even in the days when Jesus Christ walked the earth the "religious leaders" accused Christ of doing His miracles by the power of the devil. These self-righteous religious leaders were assigning to Christ their own sinful hearts.
Matthew 23:1-31 "23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples,
2 saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses.
3 Therefore, whatever they tell you, do and comply with it all, but do not do as they do; for they say things and do not do them.
4 And they tie up heavy burdens and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as their finger.
5 And they do all their deeds to be noticed by other people; for they broaden their phylacteries and lengthen the tassels of their garments.
6 And they love the place of honor at banquets, and the seats of honor in the synagogues,
7 and personal greetings in the marketplaces, and being called Rabbi by the people.
8 But as for you, do not be called Rabbi; for only One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers and sisters.
9 And do not call anyone on earth your father; for only One is your Father, He who is in heaven.
10 And do not be called leaders; for only One is your Leader, that is, Christ.
11 But the greatest of you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted."
They love being called with the title "pastor" to appear superior to others.
Matthew 23:13-29
Eight Woes
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you shut the kingdom of heaven in front of people; for you do not enter it yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves."
These pastors instil pride in the people for elevating them as their leader rather than the Holy Spirit. These people take the place of the Holy Spirit in many indoctrinated people who love religion but do not love Christ.
Matthew 23:16-24
“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever swears by the temple, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple is obligated.’
17 You fools and blind men! Which is more important, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?
18 And you say, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, that is nothing; but whoever swears by the offering that is on it is obligated.’
19 You blind men, which is more important, the offering or the altar that sanctifies the offering?
20 Therefore, the one who swears by the altar, swears both by the altar and by everything on it.
21 And the one who swears by the temple, swears both by the temple and by Him who dwells in it.
22 And the one who swears by heaven, swears both by the throne of God and by Him who sits upon it."
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the Law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!"
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence.
26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the [z]outside of it may also become clean."
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.
28 So you too, outwardly appear righteous to people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,
30 and you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’
31 So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Fill up, then, the measure of the guilt of your fathers.
33 You snakes, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?"
Yes, there are modern day Pharisees in most church gatherings today. Those in the pews do not recognize them because they have been elevated to "mediators between God and man" in the minds of those who do not know their Bibles and to those who have no interest in seeking the Holy Spirit.
Most people are content to have the "spiritual leaders" tell them what to believe and who to follow, but they are not the spiritual leaders of the born-again believers, Christ is that for everyone Who has the Holy Spirit living in them. No man takes priority over the Holy Spirit nor does any man dictate or rule over another born-again believer, this is also the job of the Holy Spirit.
John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears (from the Father) he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come”
We know the hearts of men because the Holy Spirit shows us, we know what is coming in the future because the Holy Spirit has spoken in His Word. We do not add to scripture with new information we merely read what God said already in His Word and He enlightens our understanding. We need no new visions or dreams about the future to be content with what Christ has already given us in His Word. We believe Him and that is the walk of faith.
If you follow any man you will find yourself depending on that man for your spirituality often leading to idolatry.
