#PHARISEES

[tomicscomics]

11/08/2024

Shutter your windows, you shuddering widows.

___

JOKE-OGRAPHY: 1. In this Bible story, Jesus warns His followers against teachers who value their status more than their mission. They wear long, rich robes to show off their status. They go out to marketplaces to be recognized and greeted. They receive seats of honor at lavish banquets. They recite lengthy prayers in public to impress people with their piety. Yet, when entrusted by law with helping to manage the assets of grieving widows, they take advantage and cheat them out of their property (Jesus says they "devour the houses of widows" in most translations). These hypocrites like to LOOK good instead of BEING good, and Jesus says that'll earn them a terrible punishment. 2. In this cartoon, Jesus says His line from the Bible, ending with, "Yet they devour the houses of widows." He's explaining how the hypocritical teachers take advantage of people, and a nearby widow quietly listens and concurs. Suddenly, a flock of hypocritical teachers descends to feast upon her home, and she's forced to fight the literal embodiment of Jesus's figurative speech. 3. I've said it before, but using straight up verbs as onomatopoeias is super funny to me, and a lofty scholar hissing while he's thwacked by a broomstick is surely novel, right?

[illustratus]

Carrying the Cross by Igor Sushenok

[artandthebible]

Christ Escapes the Pharisees

Artist: Johann Friedrich Overbeck (German, 1789-1869)

Date: 1866

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, Belgium

"Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp." (John 10:39)

[stupidjewishwhiteboy]

I gotta say, while Pope Francis seems to have been a man who acted with humility and kindness to bring about social justice in this world, I'm a bit leery to giving kudos to a man who was the leader of the institution that was the impetus for probably the most amount of antisemitism every, historically speaking, even if most of that antisemitism is now in the past. I'm also a bit leery to trust the movement for socially progressive Christianity that he represented that often could not help itself but describe the forces it opposed (even if those forces were in reality made up primarily of people who either identified as Christian or who were raised and existed for the majority of their lives in primarily Christian-oriented environments) using metaphors for 1st-century Jews--and that Francis himself did this, even if he also made efforts to encourage Catholics not to do it

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Jesus is asked about the supposed significance of disasters

1-5 It was just at this moment that some people came up to tell him the story of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with that of their own sacrifices. Jesus made this reply to them: “Are you thinking that these Galileans were worse sinners than any other men of Galilee because this happened to them? I assure you that is not so. You will all die just as miserable a death unless your hearts are changed! You remember those eighteen people who were killed at Siloam when the tower collapsed upon them? Are you imagining that they were worse offenders than any of the other people who lived in Jerusalem? I assure you they were not. You will all die as tragically unless your whole outlook is changed!”

And hints at God’s patience with the Jewish nation

6-9 Then he gave them this parable: “Once upon a time a man had a fig-tree growing in his garden, and when he came to look for the figs, he found none at all. So he said to his gardener, ‘Look, I have come expecting fruit on this fig-tree for three years running and never found any. Better cut it down. Why should it use up valuable space?’ And the gardener replied, ‘Master, don’t touch it this year till I have had a chance to dig round it and give it a bit of manure. Then, if it bears after that, it will be all right. But if it doesn’t, then you can cut it down.’”

Jesus reduces the sabbatarians to silence

10-12 It happened that he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath day. In the congregation was a woman who for eighteen years had been ill from some psychological cause; she was bent double and was quite unable to straighten herself up. When Jesus noticed her, he called her and said, “You are set free from your illness!”

13-14 And he put his hands upon her, and at once she stood upright and praised God. But the president of the synagogue, in his annoyance at Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath, announced to the congregation, “There are six days in which men may work. Come on one of them and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”

15-16 But the Lord answered him, saying, “You hypocrites, every single one of you unties his ox or his ass from the stall on the Sabbath day and leads him away to water! This woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom you all know Satan has kept bound for eighteen years—surely she should be released from such bonds on the Sabbath day!”

17 These words reduced his opponents to shame, but the crowd was thrilled at all the glorious things he did.

18-19 Then he went on, “What is the kingdom of God like? What illustration can I use to make it plain to you? It is like a grain of mustard-seed which a man took and dropped in his own garden. It grew and became a tree and the birds came and nested in its branches.

20-21 Then again he said, “What can I say the kingdom of God is like? It is like the yeast which a woman took and covered up in three measures of flour until the whole lot had risen.”

The kingdom is not entered by drifting but by decision

22-30 So he went on his way through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way towards Jerusalem. Someone remarked, “Lord, are only a few men to be saved?” And Jesus told them, “You must do your utmost to get in through the narrow door, for many, I assure you, will try to do so and will not succeed, once the master of the house has got up and shut the door. Then you may find yourselves standing outside and knocking at the door crying, ‘Lord, please open the door for us.’ He will reply to you, ‘I don’t know who you are or where you come from.’ ‘But …’ you will protest, ‘we have had meals with you, and you taught in our streets!’ Yet he will say to you, ‘I tell you I do not know where you have come from. Be off, you scoundrels!’ At that time there will be tears and bitter regret—to see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets inside the kingdom of God, and you yourselves excluded, outside! Yes, and people will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and take their seats in the kingdom of God. There are some at the back now who will be in the front then, and there are some in front now who will then be far behind.”

The Pharisees warn Jesus of Herod; he replies

31 Just then some Pharisees arrived to tell him, “You must get right away from here, for Herod intends to kill you.”

32-33 “Go and tell that fox,” returned Jesus, “today and tomorrow I am expelling evil spirits and continuing my work of healing, and on the third day my work will be finished. But I must journey on today, tomorrow, and the next day, for it would never do for a prophet to meet his death outside Jerusalem!

34-35 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you murder the prophets and stone the messengers that are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children round me like a bird gathering her brood together under her wings, but you would never have it. Now, all that is left is yourselves, and your house. For I tell you that you will never see me again till the day when you cry, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’” — Luke 13 | J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Administered by The Archbishops’ Council of the Church of England. Cross References: Exodus 20:9; Nehemiah 3:15; Psalm 6:8; Psalm 69:25; Psalm 107:14; Psalm 112:10; Song of Solomon 2:15; Isaiah 5:2; Ezekiel 17:23; Daniel 4:14; Matthew 4:23; Matthew 7:13; Matthew 8:11; Matthew 9:8; Matthew 11:16; Matthew 13:24; Matthew 13:33; Matthew 14:3; Matthew 19:30; Matthew 27:1-2; Mark 6:6; Luke 3:8; Luke 7:3; Luke 14:35; Luke 19:41; Luke 21:28; John 9:2; John 11:9; Titus 2:8

Luke 13 Bible Commentary - Matthew Henry (concise)

[idea-w-retorcie]

Since JCS obsession is fully back I provide Pharisees from Polish production. With Polish version of Team Rocket motto. They just have this sort of design, you know... Evil Polycule or sth. Also, I loved them. Caiaphas had most unexpected low voice ever and he looks so damn young and, well, like a twink. And yet, dude was perfect for the role. Basically all of them. 💜

From left to right:

Annas: To protect the world from devastation!

Caiaphas: To unite all peoples within our nation!

Priest: To denounce the evils of truth and love!

[etnolecter]

Might be too specific, but i LOVE the voice of the actor who sings the lines:

"A rabble rousing mission that i think we must abort!"

"Quick Caiaphas, go call the roman guard"

"No riots, no army, no fighting, no slogans"

"But how can we stop him? His glamour increases. By leaps every minute; he's top of the poll"

"What then to do about this Jesus-mania?"

"Where do we start with the man who is bigger. Than John was when John did his baptism thing?"

During "This Jesus must die" 1996 London recording of Jesus christ superstar

I want to know his nameeeeee

Edit: I was listening to the whole soundtrack again, as you do, and i found the line "See his tounge, he can hardly talk" sung in The Temple. It sounds really similar to the other voice i mentioned above.

[arinewman7]

Pharisees

Karl Schmidt Rottluff

oil on canvas, 1912

[alandemoss]

There's No Hate Like Christian Love: Exposing the Hypocrisy and Bigotry Behind Religious Dogma

Why I Refuse to Watch The Chosen and What It Reveals About Christian Hypocrisy

I refuse to watch The Chosen, a show tainted by Mormon influences, and I find the anticipation of it by several Baptists I know deeply troubling. When I hear about this series, I’m reminded of the repellent concept of “the elect” as twisted by Reformation, Calvinist, and Presbyterian traditions. Predestination in these doctrines is a grotesque, isolationist, and heretical interpretation of selective scripture. It renders much of creation meaningless, all to defend the fearful cultures it infects. Let’s be real—there’s no hate like Christian love when it’s wielded to justify exclusion and marginalization.

The Brutal Reality of Christian Bigotry

I am neurodivergent, a fact that has made me endlessly curious and painfully aware of the injustices faced by those like me. The traits that define me—deep yet detached emotions, intense focus, and an unyielding sense of justice—have isolated me from those who cannot comprehend a life spent in constant pursuit of truth. This isolation is not just a personal struggle but a reflection of a wider, systemic issue within Christianity. It’s not just me—it's the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, and anyone who doesn’t conform to their narrow ideals who are cast aside. They cherry-pick verses to justify their hate, dismissing the very essence of Christ's teachings.

The Sin of Cherry-Picking Scripture for Hate

The very essence of Christian love is betrayed when used to marginalize and condemn. Pastor Rick Morrow of Beulah Church in Richland, MO, embodies this hypocrisy with his vile claim that neurodivergent individuals are either demonically afflicted or simply not favored by God. “Either the devil has attacked them, he's brought this infirmity upon them, he's got them where he wants them, and/or God just doesn't like them very much,” Morrow says. This is nothing short of spiritual malpractice, and it makes me question the salvation of those who spew such hatred. Where are the fruits of the Spirit in this? There’s no evidence of grace, love, or goodness in such zealotry.

The Dangerous Pretense of Purity

I am outraged by the far-right "Christian" pundits calling for the elimination of autism, using it as a sick excuse for purification. Such ideologies not only marginalize but endanger the lives of countless individuals. The zealots who hold these beliefs are convinced that God requires them to purify humanity through exclusion and purging. This is a clear perversion of true Christian doctrine and a direct violation of the command to love one another.

Jesus’ True Message Versus Christian Hypocrisy

A search for historical context reveals that even Jesus’ disciples could have had traits that would now be labeled neurodivergent. Thomas’ skepticism and Peter’s intense loyalty suggest that even the earliest followers faced misconceptions and judgment. The portrayal of Matthew as autistic in The Chosen is a step in the right direction but also a stark reminder of how poorly “weirdos” are treated within church walls. I would have fought for my place and for others like me, and I’m disheartened to see such prejudices persist.

A Call to Genuine Christian Conduct

It’s high time Christians remember their true calling—to correct and rebuke one another in love and follow Jesus’ greatest commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. If you cannot exhibit the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—then you are failing at the very core of your faith. The current state of Christianity is deeply troubling. We have strayed so far from the teachings of Christ that it’s become almost unrecognizable.

We must urgently address this crisis within the faith, or we risk losing the essence of what it means to truly follow Jesus. My heart aches for a faith that once stood for unconditional love but is now plagued by hypocrisy and exclusion. We need a return to grace and a recommitment to genuine Christian values before it’s too late.

In Faith, With Christ

[tomorrowusa]

^^^ Actually, "MAGA Mike" acts more like the Pharisees than Moses.

More seriously, you cannot be a GOP office holder these days unless you accept Donald Trump as your Lord and Savior.

[divinecomedyproductions]

Kinda funny when snobs consider your work or what you enjoy a bad because its only enjoyed by a smaller audience which then they pride themselves on they liking something thats enjoyed by the masses "it speaks to the human condition"

Then if you like something thats resonates by a larger audience, they flip it to "enjoyed by the unwashed masses" which then these prigs boast like something thats niche its because "we enlightened few understand something deeper and higher."

When it was the reverse logic 5 minutes ago

Cliche, niche, broad, what makes money, and tampering around with concepts in dissent and distaste is "bad" unless "the right people" like it and get what *they* want

These people resort to nothing buttery and labeling to stuff they dislike and we gotta take their word for it 

While the likes of us gotta justify what we like and want by bending over backwards, jump through hoops, and do jumping jacks and somersaults

And they might dismiss it anyway as “subjective feelings” and “unsubstantial” which once again, they don’t elaborate and we just gotta take their word, and we’re supposed to abide to their nebulous measures of what is “objectively well written”

Reminds me how Jesus describes the Pharisees in Matthew 23: 4

��They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.”

This is why I'm so skeptical of people who talk about being "objective" when it comes to these things, because their logic is fluid and conforms to whatever make their way right and everyone else's wrong. Even when they end up contradicting themselves.

Like Andrew Ketterley from The Magician’s Nephew, they’re a bunch of peddling magicians who think because they themselves are "objective" by default because they "know objective things" they don't need to follow the rules like everyone else because everything they do is “perfectly rooted in objective reality”, they alone are “objective” and everyone else is “subjective” and therefor “subject(ed)” to their “objective” will

When “Objective” mean things that apply to *everybody*

Its like Gnosticism,

They (G)now, with a “G” and you don’t, so its different when its them

[germiyahu]

Actually that may be too harsh to Jesus. He was a Rabbi after all, and what I've learned is that the Rabbis haaaaated the Maccabees. And can you blame them? The Maccabees and their weird incestuous jumbled up quasi theocratic mess was directly responsible for the Roman usurpation of Judea.

So it's not a surprise that a Pharisee like Jesus would view armed revolt as futile and only leading to disarray, and that the Kingdom of God was the only true state to aspire to and to wait for. But, as it was just Purim... I don't know, sitting on your hands and waiting for God to save you isn't exactly the only way to do things in Judaism now is it?

[dendropolis]

Yippee yay yippee yo

[artandthebible]

Christ Rejected

Artist: Benjamin West (British-American, 1738-1820)

Date: 1814

Medium: Oil on canvas

Collection: Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, United States

Description

The monumental scale and complex composition of this painting have something in common with other forms of popular entertainments of the period - dioramas and panoramas. Such spectacular works used to travel from city to city in Europe and America, where they were displayed to receptive crowds in galleries and lecture halls. The English novelist Jane Austen was particularly impressed by West’s contribution to the genre: “I have seen West’s famous Painting, and prefer it to anything of the kind I ever saw before…[it] is the first representation of our Savior which ever at all contented me.” When the painting was featured in a special exhibition at the Museum in 1862, viewers received a three-page pamphlet explaining the scene.

[fieriframes]

[The meadowlark and the chim-choo-ree and the sparrow. Set to the sky in a flying spree, for the sport of the pharaoh. A little while later the Pharisees dragged a comb through the meadow. Do you remember what they called up to you and me in our window?]

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Pharisees and Sadducees Demand Signs

1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven.

2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.

3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.

5 And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.

6 Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.

8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

9 Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

10 Neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?

11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?

12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

13 When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?

14 And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

15 He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?

16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

19 And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

20 Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

23 But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. — Matthew 16 | King James Version (KJV) The King James Version Bible is in the public domain Cross References: Job 34:11; Psalm 42:2; Psalm 49:8; Psalm 129:2; Proverbs 26:5; Isaiah 22:22; Isaiah 57:3; Jeremiah 1:1; Matthew 1:16; Matthew 3:7; Matthew 4:10; Matthew 5:20; Matthew 6:30; Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:38-39; Matthew 12:40; Matthew 14:17; Matthew 14:20; Matthew 21:25; Mark 8:15; Luke 9:18; Luke 12:54; Luke 12:56; John 1:42; John 12;25; Revelation 3:7

Some Standing Here Will Not Taste Death