Are you familiar with Jeff Foxworthy.....Mr. Foxworthy of course is the man who has gotten rich, and famous with his renditions of "You might be a redneck if......"

For example here are some I came across
You Might Be a Redneck If...

	You pick your teeth from a catalog.
	You've ever barbecued Spam on the grill.
	You can't tell what color your car is because of the dirt.
	The Halloween pumpkin on your front porch has more teeth than your wife.
	You've been married three times and still have the same in-laws.
	You believe that beef jerky and Moon Pies are two of the major food groups.
	Anyone in your family died right after saying, "Hey, y'all watch this!".
	Taking your wife on a cruise means circling the Dairy Queen.
	Your front porch collapses and four dogs git killed.
	Your dad walks you to school because you are both in the same grade.
	You have every episode of Hee-Haw on tape.
	You've ever been involved in a custody fight over a hunting dog.
	Now I'm not sure if Pharisees were rednecks or not....but I do know that they were stiff-necked.  This morning the message is....."You might be a Pharisee if....."

Who were the Pharisees ? 

They were Jewish separatists. 

They believed there was only one way of doing things....and it was there way. 

They were aloof and arrogant. 

They believed in traditions, and rituals that they created as much as they did the word of God. 

They believed that others should strictly adhere to the law.....but they didn't have to.

There is a word in our language that is synonymous with Pharisee.....it is the word "hypocrite". 

Some of Jesus most passionate, and pointed sermons were preached concerning the Pharisees. 

Though there were only about 1000 Pharisees in the days of Jesus....they were a very powerful religious force......so powerful in fact......that their attitude is still prevalent today. 

In fact......it is possible that some of their actions, and attitudes have become imbedded in our hearts today...

Let me ask y'all a question......how many of ya'll believe in soap ?

How many of y'all believe in shampoo ? 

In right guard.....and left guard ?

The Pharisees were notorious for their outer cleanliness. 

They went to great lengths to make sure that their hands were clean before they ate. It was a ceremony......and it required cleansing the hands a certain way...and with only a certain amount of water...quarter of a log or about 1 and 1/2 egg shells. 

This water was then poured on the hands and the hands were placed upwards...and the water had to run above their wrists...once this was done......the same amount of water was poured upon their hands the second time, and the hands were lowered...the water then had to run down their hands and drip off each finger.   

This had to be done successfully twice before the hands were considered clean. Now this had to be done not only before meals, but after meals ! 

They also had regulations as to how to wash cooking and eating utensils. 

They placed great emphasis on outer cleansing, and outer appearance.

From the outside.....they looked clean, but inwardly they were corrupt.

In other words they talked a good talk...and they appeared from the outside to be alright, but on the inside they were unclean spiritually.

Now let me tell you I'm all in favor of body hygiene....I believe in baths, showers, washing your hair, using deodorant, and all those things.....but do those things, and don't forget that which God sees....because God knows what on the inside......He knows those things in our life that are secret....those things we hide in the depths of our heart.....the envy..the private lies.....the bitterness......the evil thoughts.....the lustful thinking....

Those are the things which defile, and corrupt us.  Those are the things that we must not tolerate in our hearts !

The Pharisees believed in tithing.....they even went above what the law required. 

There were some things that the law did not speak on....but the Pharisees tithed even on those things.........but they left out the more important things.....they forgot about love, and justice. They made sure that they brought their collections in.....but it did not matter to them that they did injustice to widow's and their brothers.

Tithing is important......it is scriptural......but we must not leave off loving the Lord, loving our brothers, and sisters.....loving the lost !

To do is to be a Pharisee....a hypocrite !

1 Cor 13

Matthew 6:1-5

The alms chest which was used to receive collections for the poor and needy had holes in it where the money could be dropped.  These were called trumpets. 

The Pharisees would thrust their money into these holes with much force so that the money made a noise.....thus they were sounding the trumpet! 

We need to be generous in our alm giving. 

We need to be compassionate, and liberal in our giving to help those with needs, but we are to make sure that our motive is right.  We are to do it out of a compassionate heart, and to it for the Lord, not to be seen of people !  Now there is certainly nothing wrong with praying in public places, but the Pharisee prays out in public only so he might impress people.

All that the Pharisees did was to impress other people.....what profit is it if we impress man, but fail in our efforts to please God.  Are you seeking to live a life pleasing to the Lord ?

Matthew 23:1-7

The Pharisees had all the appearance of being right with God....they appeared to be so spiritual !.....but they were misleading ! 

They hindered others from having a relationship with God because they were hypocrites ! Hell is going to be full of people who claimed to be Christian....who appeared to be righteous on the outside....who belonged to churches... What a shame it is to claim to be something......claim to have something...and be without !

Made converts of hell......Matt. 23:15

Jesus knew His audience.

These religious experts attached hundreds of additional obligations to the Law of God.

Yet they themselves were masters of the loophole. They even had ways of sidestepping the law of the Sabbath, which forbade carrying a burden on that day.

William Barclay quotes pharisaic tradition, which said, "He who carries anything, whether it be in his right hand, or in his left hand, or in his bosom, or on his shoulder is guilty; but he who carries anything on the back of his hand, or with his foot, or with his mouth, or with his elbow, or with his hair, or with his money-bag turned upside down, or between his moneybag and his shirt, or in the fold of his shirt, or in his shoe, or in his sandal is guiltless, because he does not carry it in the usually way of carrying it out."

The Pharisees had 20/20 vision when it came to seeing the faults in others, but were blind to their own faults.  They were quick to point out the mistakes of others, but became defensive when they were accused.

Matthew 7:4