We continue our look at the Pharisees as they are set before us in the Bible.

They set out to kill the Saviour from an early stage in His ministry. 

"Then (after healing of a man) the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him," Matt 12:14. Their opposition grew and intensified. "And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet," Matt 21:45-46. 

They were chief amongst His murderers. 

"Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons," John 18:3. This was their spirit, Matt 23:31.

They were amongst the foremost opponents of the gospel in the days of the apostles. 

"But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses," Acts 15:5. Yet some were saved! Nicodemus, John 3:1, 19:39. Great is God's mercy. In Acts 9:1, we have the nature of the Pharisee set forth. "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord . . ."

Here is a clear picture of the wickedness of the Pharisee. Paul was indeed a Pharisee. "Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee," Acts 26:5.

This then is something of the character of the first man mentioned here in our parable and yet he come presenting himself as righteous and without sin!

How men would seek to deceive God as if He did not see their heart!