The Pharisees were a prominent religious and political group in Judaism during the Second Temple period, especially during the time of Jesus. They were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and their emphasis on oral traditions. While they were respected as religious leaders and interpreters of the law, they often clashed with Jesus over their legalism, hypocrisy, and failure to understand the heart of God’s commands.
Key Characteristics of the Pharisees
- Devotion to the Law and Oral Traditions
- The Pharisees strictly observed the written law (Torah) and oral traditions, which they believed were equally authoritative.
- Matthew 23:2-3 (NIV):
“The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.” - Mark 7:8 (NIV):
“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
- Belief in the Resurrection and Afterlife
- Unlike the Sadducees, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, angels, and the existence of the spiritual realm.
- Acts 23:8 (NIV):
“The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, and that there are neither angels nor spirits, but the Pharisees believe all these things.”
- Influence and Authority
- The Pharisees were influential in synagogues and among the Jewish people. They were seen as interpreters of the law and moral guides.
- John 7:48-49 (NIV):
“Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”
- Hypocrisy and Legalism
- Jesus frequently rebuked the Pharisees for their outward religiosity and inward corruption. They often focused on external compliance while neglecting mercy, justice, and faithfulness.
- Matthew 23:23-24 (NIV):
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” - Luke 11:39 (NIV):
“Then the Lord said to him, ‘Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.'”
Interactions Between Jesus and the Pharisees
- Conflict Over the Sabbath
- The Pharisees criticized Jesus for healing and allowing His disciples to pick grain on the Sabbath, accusing Him of breaking the law.
- Matthew 12:2 (NIV):
“When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, ‘Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.'” - Mark 3:4 (NIV):
“Then Jesus asked them, ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they remained silent.”
- Denunciation of Hypocrisy
- Jesus openly rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and their tendency to burden others with legalistic demands.
- Matthew 23:27 (NIV):
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean.”
- Parables Against the Pharisees
- Jesus told parables that exposed the self-righteousness and spiritual blindness of the Pharisees, such as the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
- Luke 18:11-14 (NIV):
“The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”
Positive Aspects of the Pharisees
- Nicodemus
- A Pharisee named Nicodemus sought Jesus privately to understand His teachings and later defended Him.
- John 3:1-2 (NIV):
“Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, ‘Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.'”
- Gamaliel
- A respected Pharisee named Gamaliel advised the Sanhedrin to exercise caution in opposing the apostles, demonstrating wisdom and fairness.
- Acts 5:38-39 (NIV):
“Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
- Paul the Apostle
- Paul, originally a Pharisee, became one of the greatest apostles after his conversion.
- Philippians 3:5-6 (NIV):
“Circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.”
Legacy and Influence
- Teachings in Judaism
- After the destruction of the Second Temple in AD 70, the Pharisees’ emphasis on synagogue worship and Torah study became central to Rabbinic Judaism.
- Warning for Believers
- The Pharisees’ legalism and hypocrisy serve as a warning for Christians to avoid outward religiosity without inward transformation.
- Matthew 15:8-9 (NIV):
“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'”
Conclusion
The Pharisees were influential religious leaders devoted to the Law and traditions but often misunderstood or distorted God’s intent behind His commands. While they held to some important truths, such as belief in the resurrection, their legalism and hypocrisy put them at odds with Jesus, who emphasized mercy, justice, and genuine faith. The Pharisees’ interactions with Jesus highlight the importance of a transformed heart over mere outward compliance.
- Micah 6:8 (NIV):
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”