Who were the Pharisees?
Introduction. In Jesus' day, the Jews were divided into many prominent religious groups or sects, including Pharisees, Sadducees (aristocratic Temple priests, accepted only the Torah/Pentateuch - first five books of the OT), Essenes (ascetic, communal, associated with the Dead Sea Scrolls), and Zealots (militant nationalists opposing Rome). In contrast to the others, the Pharisees seemed to be more popular with a focus on the Law of Moses augmented with oral traditions along with ceremonial purity and good deeds (e.g., fasting, prayers, alms giving, ceremonial washings). Their name was derived from a Hebrew term meaning "separatist". Many of them rejected Jesus as their Messiah (Matt. 9:34; Matt. 12:14). After His death, some of them continued to persecute His disciples, including Saul who was later known as Paul (Acts 8:1-3; Acts 23:6).
"Legalists"? The Pharisees were very concerned about keeping the minute areas of the law (Matt. 23: 23). Some today would call them "legalists". But Christ did not condemn this, but rather endorsed it. Their problem was they had forgotten the "weightier matters of the law". Jesus said, "...these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
Did works to be seen of men. Pretension was a common trait of the Pharisees. Jesus said of them, "But all their works they do for to be seen of men" (Matt. 23: 5). They loved attention and religious titles (Matt. 23: 6-9). Also, while the Pharisees taught and emphasized the law, but they often hypocritically did not follow it (Matt. 23: 3; Luke 12:1).
The Pharisees made void the commandments of God. The Pharisees were often more concerned about keeping their own traditions than God's law. As Jesus observed, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (Mark 7: 9). They made void God's commandments which rendered their worship vain or pointless (Mark 7: 7, 13)
Jesus had many severe confrontations with the Pharisees. On one occasion Jesus said, "let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind..." (Matt. 15: 14). However, Jesus never rebuked any for sincerely keeping His commandments or for teaching God's law in its purity to others. And Jesus never discouraged good works, but rather endorsed such (Matt. 23: 1-3).
"Legalists"? The Pharisees were very concerned about keeping the minute areas of the law (Matt. 23: 23). Some today would call them "legalists". But Christ did not condemn this, but rather endorsed it. Their problem was they had forgotten the "weightier matters of the law". Jesus said, "...these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone."
Did works to be seen of men. Pretension was a common trait of the Pharisees. Jesus said of them, "But all their works they do for to be seen of men" (Matt. 23: 5). They loved attention and religious titles (Matt. 23: 6-9). Also, while the Pharisees taught and emphasized the law, but they often hypocritically did not follow it (Matt. 23: 3; Luke 12:1).
The Pharisees made void the commandments of God. The Pharisees were often more concerned about keeping their own traditions than God's law. As Jesus observed, "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (Mark 7: 9). They made void God's commandments which rendered their worship vain or pointless (Mark 7: 7, 13)
Jesus had many severe confrontations with the Pharisees. On one occasion Jesus said, "let them alone, they be blind leaders of the blind..." (Matt. 15: 14). However, Jesus never rebuked any for sincerely keeping His commandments or for teaching God's law in its purity to others. And Jesus never discouraged good works, but rather endorsed such (Matt. 23: 1-3).