We fall into this trap when we follow what people say, even our leaders, without the truth coming from Scripture in context. When we fear what the brothers will say about us if we do not follow the party line, even if we feel confident the Scriptures say something else, we fall into the Pharisee trap.

When our reputation is more important than what the Bible says, we are wrong. We fail when we seek acceptance from others, knowing in our heart that it isn’t Biblically correct.

We are in trouble when we hope to preserve our traditions and culture at the expense of truth.

When our validation and approval come from men more than seeking God’s approval, we are like the Pharisees.

We are in trouble when externals matter more than internals or when we “major on the minors and minor on the majors.”

We have fallen into the Pharisee trap when we seek to maintain our power and influence among the brethren by not saying what we think or practice “to get along.” When we manipulate or distort Scripture to support our authority and influence, we act like Pharisees.

When rules become more important than our relationship with God, or we feel that obeying the rules will earn us favor with God, we have fallen from grace. Galatians 5:4

When we focus on enforcing legalistic rules and regulations rather than nurturing genuine faith and spiritual growth, we act like Pharisees.

When the fear of being ostracized or rejected by the church community for holding unconventional beliefs or expressing dissenting opinions, we are in deep trouble.

When we conform to the expectations and standards of the church community, even if it goes against our own deeply held convictions, we are acting like Pharisees.

We must study the Scriptures in context. If the rules are based on isolated texts instead of being consistent in the Scripture, we should stop pushing the rules so much. Preaching expositionally and sequentially can mess with “pushing our own agenda.” Sequential preaching forces us to focus on the next chapter and verse and not orbit back to our pet peeves or cultural defenders.

We must focus on cultivating a humble and sincere heart. A heart of mercy and compassion is more important than following the rules.

Change should be from the heart outwardly because the Holy Spirit places a “holy want to” in our hearts.

A spirit of grace and forgiveness should envelop all we do as God’s people. We are the forgiven, and the forgiven forgive. We are the loved, and the loved love.

Everything should be about teaching people to have a relationship with God from the heart. Teachers often convey to people indirectly or directly that God’s love for them depends on their obedience to the rules. That is not grace.

People should actively engage with the Scriptures, studying and learning for themselves. The pastor or teacher can guide them, but they must search the Scriptures to determine whether they are true.

Take the time to develop a spirit of genuine, Christ-like love toward all people. Die to yourself and put the needs of others before yours. Recognize and confront hypocrisy in your own life.

We are to live generous, sacrificial lives, putting Jesus first, others second, and ourselves last.

Don’t be afraid to reevaluate your beliefs. Refrain from using religious practices as a means of self-promotion. Continuously examine and purify your own motives and intentions.

Avoid making harsh judgments and assumptions about others. Embrace a spirit of humility and teachability.