Lesson 9: The Idol of Viewpoint

“And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul,’ and ‘by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.’” (Mark 3:22, ESV)

If you’re familiar with the gospels at all then you know that the scribes and Pharisees were bitter opponents of Jesus. Thus, their accusation that Jesus’ worked by demonic powers may come as little surprise. However, would you be surprised to find out that those who made this charge did so with all sincerity; that they truly believed Jesus worked by demonic powers? But why would the scribes and Pharisees reach this conclusion when the rest of the people marvel at Jesus’ teaching and power (see Mark 1.21-28)? Viewpoint. In their minds, Jesus must have utilized demonic powers because it was the only conclusion their viewpoint would allow. Viewpoint had become their idol, and a powerful idol it is!

Viewpoint Becomes An Idol

Scripture does not record the origins of the Pharisees. They are an important sect of the Jews when the New Testament begins, but they are absent in the Old Testament record. Their history is rooted in the inter-testamental period when Palestine was ruled by the Greeks. The story is a fascinating one, but a brief synopsis will serve our purpose:

• Several world empires were used by God to fulfill His purpose with Israel in the Old Testament record. Assyria would take the northern kingdom of Israel into captivity (2Kings 17) while Babylon would take Judah captive and destroy both Jerusalem and the Lord’s Temple (2Chronicles 36).
• The Old Testament concludes with the Medo-Persian empire in control. They had defeated the Babylonians (Daniel 5) and allowed the Jews to return to the Promised Land and rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1.1-4; see Isaiah 44.28).
• However, the Lord foretold that the Greeks would defeat the Persians (Daniel 8). Daniel’s prophecy is significant because it foretold that a great king would lead Greece to victory (vs. 21, Alexander the Great), but that four kingdoms would arise after his death (vs. 22). This is exactly what happened after Alexander’s death, and two of the kingdoms were significant for Israel as the Ptolemies (based in Egypt) and the Seleucids (based in Syria) vied for control of Palestine.
• Finally, Daniel’s prophecy also described one king who would “destroy mighty men and the people who are the saints” (Daniel 8.24). This king, known to us as Antiochus IV Epiphanes, is significant to understand how the Pharisees developed.
• The rule of Antiochus IV is described in Daniel 11.21-35, but of particular note is his attitude toward the Lord:
  • “his heart shall be set against the holy covenant” (vs. 28). After invading Egypt in 170 B.C., Antiochus IV stopped in Jerusalem and raided the Temple treasury.
  • Antiochus IV would be “enraged and take action against the holy covenant. He shall turn back and pay attention to those who forsake the holy covenant” (vs. 30). Antiochus IV had previously taken a bribe and installed a high priest who was not of Aaron’s line. Rebellion broke out in Jerusalem and an attempt was made to oust this impostor priest. Antiochus put the rebellion down, massacring tens of thousands of Jews.
  • Finally, “forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burn offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate” (vs. 31). This passage details Antiochus IV war against the worship of Jehovah. His intent was to Hellenize the Jews so he outlawed the sacrificial system, Sabbath observance, the Jewish festivals and circumcision. On the 15th of Chislve, 167 B.C. an object of sacrilege was erected on the altar of burnt offering. This is usually taken to be an idol of Olympian Zeus. Here, it is referred to as the “abomination that makes desolation.”
• However, Daniel also foretold that a “people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (vs. 32).
  • “The main organized rebellion was led by the Hasmonean family. When a Syrian envoy came to their town, Modein, to enforce Antiochus’s edict, the head of the family, a priest named Mattathias, killed him. The family fled and became the rallying point for other rebels. Judas, one of Matthias’s five sons, became the military commander and gained the nickname “Maccabeus” (“hammer”) because of the defeats he inflicted on the Syrian forces sent against the rebels. In December 164 B.C., about three years after the desecration of the temple, Judas regained control of Jerusalem, purified the temple, and resumed the sacrifices. This event is not recorded in Daniel 11.” (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Background Commentary)
  • Significantly, the Maccabees were joined by those described as the “hasidim”, i.e. “godly ones” (see 1Mac 2.42). It is believed that these were the forerunners of the Pharisees.

This background is important because it helps us to understand the viewpoint of the Pharisees. A movement that was born during a time when God’s Law was under assault would zealously defend His precepts. And as more of God’s people adopted Greek customs, the Pharisees would entrench further in their defense of the Law. They did so by developing a system of traditions that were meant to “put a hedge around” the Law. The traditions were not the Law, but following the traditions would keep one from violating the Law. For instance, they classified 39 different types of work that would qualify as Sabbath violations (The Mishnah, Shabbath 7.2).

Now, consider some of the early interactions between Jesus and the Pharisees:

• They accused Jesus of blasphemy when He forgave the paralytic of his sins (Mark 2.5-7). Significantly, Antiochus IV had claimed to be divine, and it was ingrained in the Pharisees that no man could be god.
• They criticized Jesus for dining with tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2.16). By contrast, the Pharisees maintained separation from anything and everything they considered unclean.
• They accused Jesus of violating the Sabbath (Mark 2.23-24). Plucking grain would have violated one of their 39 classifications of work!

But how could they reconcile the powerful works Jesus performed? How could someone who disregarded their traditions, thus violating God’s Law in their minds, possibly work by the power of God? He couldn’t, so He must be working by the power “of the prince of demons” (Mark 3.22). That was the only conclusion their viewpoint would allow. Thus, their viewpoint had become an idol because it prevented them from truly following God.

Our Viewpoints Can Easily Become Idols

Having a viewpoint isn’t wrong. We all have them, and they are unique in that they’re shaped by our past and experiences. Fact is, there are probably very good reasons for your viewpoint; your viewpoint may even be rooted in godly principles. But viewpoints can easily become idols because they quickly become more important to us than God and His word. Even viewpoints that are rooted in godly principles may become fixated on those principles to the detriment of real commitment to Him. Consider how easily these viewpoints can become idols:

1. You are convinced that a particular politician or party stand for godly principles. Your viewpoint is likely based on solid ground. But it becomes an idol when you “toe the party line” when policies or practices are contrary to the will of God (Acts 5.29). It becomes an idol when it keeps you from honoring rulers who don’t share your political principles (Romans 13.7). It becomes an idol when you judge those who don’t share your political beliefs as being unworthy of the Kingdom (cf. Galatians 3.28).
2. You are convinced that the way you were taught to worship is correct. Your viewpoint is likely rooted in Scripture and thus good. However, it becomes an idol when we think that tradition (i.e. the way we’ve always done it) is the same as Scripture (cf. Mark 7.8).
3. You are convinced that your moral practices are correct. Again, if rooted in Scripture, you are probably correct. However, it becomes an idol when you judge deviations not prohibited in Scripture as sinful (see Romans 14.4). It becomes an idol when your moral practices don’t change when applicable principles of Scripture are brought to your attention.

Remember, the Pharisees were sincere in their practices; they truly thought they were doing what was right. They, like Paul, would have lived “before God in all good conscience” (Acts 23.1). But their viewpoint blinded them and prevented them from following Jesus. Viewpoints can easily become idols, and these idols must be destroyed.