Beware of Modern-Day Pharisees

We walked down the hill toward the crystal-clear water of the springs. The sun was at its peak, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. It was one of those weird Florida winter days when the locals bundle up, and the tourists swim.

As we reached the bottom of the hill, stepping onto the lawn where blankets and towels were scattered, Russ suddenly stopped. His face screamed, What the heck? as he pointed at the sign in front of him.

“Beware of Alligators. Swim at your own risk.”

Silence fell over us as we scanned the area. People lounged in the sun. A group splashed and laughed in the springs—right behind the sign.

Russ finally broke the silence. “I don’t… what… why are they all swimming?”

I took in the bizarre scene and shrugged. “I mean, it says swim at your own risk, not no swimming. So…”

Before long, we had our own chairs and towels laid out and joined the others in the water—ignoring the very clear warning in front of us.

Clearly, we didn’t get eaten by alligators (and neither did anyone else, if you were wondering). While we laugh about this now and still visit these springs, there are other warnings we take a little more seriously.

Photo by GR Stocks on Unsplash

A Warning We Shouldn’t Ignore

In Luke 12, Jesus delivers a warning to His disciples—one that is just as relevant today. The conversation follows a tense dinner at a Pharisee’s house, where Jesus was driven out for speaking the truth. As they left, a crowd gathered, and Jesus turned to His followers, saying:

“Beware of the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. It permeates everything they do and teach, like leaven. Everything hidden and covered up will soon be exposed. For the facade is falling down, and nothing will be kept secret for long. Whatever you have spoken in private will be public knowledge, and what you have whispered secretly behind closed doors will be broadcast far and wide for all to hear.” (Luke 12:1-3, TPT)

For those of us who have experienced spiritual abuse or toxic faith environments, this warning hits differently. I spent years hearing sermons about this passage—always directed at other people, those outside of our church. But now, standing on the other side of faith deconstruction and reconstruction, I read this passage with new eyes.

Jesus had just called out the Pharisees for their greed, lack of compassion, and impossible religious rules. Then, He turned to His followers—not the Pharisees themselves—and warned them to beware of these hypocrites.

Did you catch that?

Jesus had already warned the Pharisees about their own hypocrisy. Now, He was warning His true followers to stay on guard against them.

The Danger of Hypocrisy in Faith Communities

Looking back at my indoctrination, it feels like Jesus is speaking directly to me when He warns that hypocrisy, like leaven, infiltrates everything. At the time, I didn’t even realize how deeply it had affected me.

How scary is that?

And how many of us are living in those environments right now without realizing it?

Our knee-jerk reaction might be, Nope, not me! I’m good. But Jesus’ warning is clear—we need to run a litmus test to make sure we’re not being influenced by modern-day Pharisees.

If we look at Luke 11, Jesus lays out a checklist of red flags:

• Are they greedy and wicked?

• Do they lack compassion and generosity toward the poor?

• Are they obsessed with legalistic rules but ignore true justice and love?

• Do they seek honor, status, and public recognition?

• Is their character corrupt, harming those who come in contact with them?

Now, let’s flip it. Instead of just evaluating those in leadership, we should also ask:

• Are the people around me showing compassion and generosity?

• Are they walking in love with God and others?

• Are they prioritizing what truly matters?

If the people we admire, follow, or surround ourselves with don’t pass this test, we may be under the influence of the very thing Jesus warned us about.

Photo by Akira Hojo on Unsplash

The Call to Discernment

Friends, we are living in a time when many claim Christ with their words but live like Pharisees in their actions. Jesus’ warning wasn’t just for His disciples—it’s for us, too.

We must test the words and actions of those around us. We must be on guard against hypocrisy creeping into our faith.

So here’s my challenge to you: Take an honest look at the voices you’re listening to. If they reflect the traits of modern-day Pharisees, I pray you’ll have the courage to walk away.

The warning signs are there. Let’s not ignore them.

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

Have you ever encountered modern-day Pharisees in your faith journey? How did you navigate it? Share your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear your experiences.

And if this message resonated with you, consider sharing it with someone who might need to hear it today.