One day, as Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of the Law happened to be sitting nearby. The people had come from every village in Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was present to heal them.

The scribes and the Pharisees began to argue among themselves, saying, "Who is this man who is uttering blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

The Pharisees and their scribes started complaining to Jesus' disciples, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

Then they told him, "John's disciples frequently fast and pray, and so do those of the Pharisees. But your disciples keep right on eating and drinking."

Some of the Pharisees asked, "Why are you doing what isn't lawful on Sabbath days?"

The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Jesus closely to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, in order to find a way of accusing him of doing something wrong.

But the Pharisees and the experts in the Law rejected God's plan for themselves by refusing to be baptized by John.

Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. So he went to the Pharisee's home and took his place at the table.

There was a woman who was a notorious sinner in that city. When she learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's home, she took an alabaster jar of perfume

Now the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this and told himself, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who is touching him and what kind of woman she is. She's a sinner!"

After Jesus had said this, a Pharisee invited him to have a meal with him. So Jesus went and took his place at the table.

The Pharisee was surprised to see that he didn't first wash before the meal.

But the Lord told him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of greed and evil.

"How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You give a tenth of your mint, spices, and every kind of herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others.

How terrible it will be for you Pharisees! You love to have the places of honor in the synagogues and to be greeted in the marketplaces.

As Jesus was leaving, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely, interrogating him about many things.

Meanwhile, the people had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples. "Watch out for the yeast that is, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees!

At that hour some Pharisees came and told Jesus, "Leave and get away from here, because Herod wants to kill you!"

One Sabbath, Jesus went to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal. The guests were watching Jesus closely.

So Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the Law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"

But the Pharisees and the scribes kept complaining, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them."

Now the Pharisees, who love money, had been listening to all this and began to ridicule Jesus.

Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come. He answered them, "The kingdom of God is not coming with a visible display.

"Two men went up to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, "O God, I thank you that I'm not like other people thieves, dishonest people, adulterers, or even this tax collector.

Some of the Pharisees in the crowd told Jesus, "Teacher, tell your disciples to be quiet."