Evangelical Pharisees by Michael Reeves, (Crossway, 2023)

In Evangelical Pharisees Michael Reeves is writing to Christian believers on the theme of hypocrisy. He writes out of a concern to see orthodoxy in doctrine not just remaining as head knowledge, but leading to a change in heart and life. In the first chapter, ‘Beware of the Leaven’, Reeves reminds us that Jesus was also concerned about this theme and spoke to his disciples to warn them against Pharisaism. This heartless, formal religion is the very antithesis of what Reeves describes as Gospel Integrity. Before pointing the finger at others, Reeves calls us to examine ourselves. As Calvin said,

the human heart has so many crannies where vanity hides, so many holes where falsehood lurks, is so decked out with deceiving hypocrisy, that it often dupes itself.

Calvin, quoted pg 17

Reeves then spends a few chapters digging deeper into some of the subtleties of pharisaism. For example, Bible study is vital and essential to understanding Christian doctrine, but what if it just leads to ‘a people aware of their own Biblical knowledge but unaware of the depth of their problem’, not humbled, not dependent on God’s mercy, but self-satisfied and cerebral? Reeves exhorts preachers to preach Christ, not just about Christ. He also points the finger at the comfortable traditions in our churches that lead to a critical spirit and judging of others who do not follow the same traditions.

Then there is the subtlety of self-reliance: do we forget that our performance, our feelings, our abilities or ministry have nothing to do with our salvation? Or do we fall into the error of Sandemanianism: the mental assent to belief in God without recognising our desperate need to be saved? Or perhaps we fall into the trap of doing what we do secretly for the approval and praise of men?

Each subtle manifestation of pharisaism is countered by Reeves with a plea for an experimental religion. Bible study should not just feed the mind but should drive each believer to a deeper personal knowledge and worship of Christ. Subtle self-reliance must shift to reliance in the all-sufficiency of Christ for salvation. Total depravity must be personally understood to truly appreciate the glory and grace of God in his saving mercy.

Tenderness of heart is wrought by an apprehension of tenderness and love in Christ.

Sibbes, quoted pg 79

Reeves emphasises that in all this, the work of the Spirit is vital. It is the Spirit that regenerates the soul and melts the heart revealing to us the glories of Christ. Hypocrisy leads to internal emptiness, the antidote is in ‘beholding the glory of the Lord’.

When Christians have appreciated and adored God as all-necessary, all-sufficient, all-beautiful, and all-satisfying, they have been awakened and made fruitful. For them, the world is not enough, its glory and acclaim pale beside the splendour and allure of Jesus Christ. The loveless spirit of Pharisaism has spread its self-satisfied, human-centred, tribalizing stain all around us, but there is still hope. One hope: ‘the gospel of the glory of Christ’.

pg 103

This book is hard-hitting in its analysis and really seeks to get to the root of a problem that is more widespread than we care to think. But it is also encouraging and warm in its presentation of a real experiential religion. May we heed the warning and follow the advice, seeking our spiritual health in Christ alone.

Lorna