WHO WERE THE PHARISEES IN THE BIBLE?
Who were the Pharisees in the Bible? They were an influential religious group
What is a Pharisee? Who were the Pharisees in the Bible? The Pharisees in the Bible were an influential religious sect within Judaism at the time of Christ and the early church. They were known for their emphasis on personal piety (the word Pharisee comes from a Hebrew word meaning “separated”), their acceptance of oral tradition in addition to the written Law, and their teaching that all Jews must observe the more than 600 laws in the Torah, including rituals related to ceremonial purification.
Who were the Pharisees in the Bible? The Pharisees in the Bible were a Jewish group mentioned, either collectively or individually, ninety-eight times in the New Testament, mainly in the Gospels.
What is a Pharisee according to the Bible?, meaning
The meaning of the root word “pharisee” in the Bible is uncertain. As mentioned above, it is likely related to the Hebrew root meaning “to separate.” From whom did the Pharisees part in the Bible? Of those, especially priests or clerics, who interpreted the Law differently from them? Of the common people of the earth? Of Gentiles or Jews who embraced Hellenistic culture? From certain political groups? The Pharisees would have gone out of their way to avoid all of these people groups in their resolve to separate themselves from any type of uncleanness proscribed by Levitical law, or, more specifically, their strict interpretation of it.
WHO REALLY WERE THE PHARISEES IN THE BIBLE?
What is a Pharisee in the Bible?
The Pharisees in the Bible were mostly middle-class businessmen and synagogue leaders. Although they were a minority in the Sanhedrin and held a minority number of positions as priests, they seemed to control the Sanhedrin’s decision-making because they had popular support among the people.
Among the Pharisees in the Bible there were two schools of thought.
Among the Pharisees there were two schools of thought, based on the teachings of two rabbis, Shammai and Hillel. Shammai called for a strict and inflexible interpretation of the Law on almost all issues, but Hillel taught a looser and more liberal application.
Shammai’s followers fostered hatred of everything Roman, including taxes: Jews who served as tax collectors were persona non grata. The Shammaites wanted to ban all communication and trade between Jews and Gentiles. The Hillelites took a kinder approach and opposed such extreme exclusivity. Eventually, the two schools within Pharisaism became so hostile to each other that they refused to worship together.
The Pharisees in the Bible accept the written word as inspired by God, but they taught commandments of men as doctrine.
The Pharisees accepted the written Word as inspired by God. At the time of Christ’s earthly ministry, this would have been what we now call the Old Testament. Unfortunately, the Pharisees gave equal authority to the oral tradition, saying that the traditions went back to Moses.
Evolving over the centuries, Pharisaical traditions had the effect of adding to the Word of God, which is prohibited (Deuteronomy 4:2). The Gospels abound with examples of the Pharisees treating their traditions as equal to the Word of God (Matthew 9:14; 15:1–9; 23:5; 23:16, 23; Luke 11:42). Jesus applied the condemnation of Isaiah 29:13 to the Pharisees, saying, “For they honor me in vain, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men” (Mark 7:7).
THE PHARISEES IN THE BIBLE, WHAT THE SCRIPTURES TELL US
What the Bible says about the Pharisees
The New Testament describes the Pharisees in the Bible as opponents of Jesus or the early Christians. On the other hand, they warn Jesus that his life is in danger from Herod (Luke 13:31), invite him to eat (Luke 7:36-50; 14:1), feel attracted to or believe in Jesus (John 3 :1; 7:45-53; 9:13-38), and protect early Christians (Acts 5:34; 23:6-9). Paul claims that he was a Pharisee before his conversion (Philippians 3:5).
The Pharisees in the Bible were concerned with doctrine, but also with traditions.
The clearest statement in the New Testament about the distinctive Pharisees is Acts 23:8: “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit; but the Pharisees affirm these things.” This would give the impression that doctrine was the primary concern of the group. However, Mark 7:3-4 says that “Because the Pharisees and all the Jews, clinging to the tradition of the elders, if they do not wash their hands many times, do not eat. And returning from the market, if they do not wash , they do not eat. And there are many other things that they took to keep, like the washings of the drinking vessels, and the jugs, and the metal utensils, and the beds.” Thus, we are also told of the Pharisees’ concern for washing (ceremonial cleansing) and the observance of “the traditions of the elders,” a description of the Oral Law.
The Pharisees in the Bible neglected the most important of the law: Justice, mercy and faith
Matthew 23, speaking of the Pharisees in the Bible, calls attention to their (1) positions of religious authority in the community, (2) concern for external recognition and honor, (3) eagerness to make converts, and (4) emphasis on observing the legalistic minutiae of the law. In verse 23, Jesus condemns them, not for what they did, but for neglecting “the most important of the law: justice, mercy, and faith.”
DOCTRINES TAUGHT BY THE PHARISEES IN THE BIBLE
The Pharisees in the Bible taught the following doctrines:
1. God controls all things, but the decisions individuals make also affect the course of life.
4. The spiritual realm, including the existence of angels and demons, is real (Acts 23:8).
Many doctrines of the Pharisees in the Bible were opposed to that of the Sadducees, but they came together to achieve the death of Jesus
Many of the Pharisees’ doctrines pitted them against the Sadducees; however, the two groups managed to put their differences aside on one occasion: the trial of Jesus Christ. To bring about the death of Jesus, the Sadducees and Pharisees joined together (Mark 14:53; 15:1; John 11:48–50).
The Pharisees were responsible for compiling the Mishnah, an important document regarding the continuation of Judaism beyond the destruction of the temple. Rabbinic Judaism and modern synagogues owe their existence to the work of the Pharisees.
WHAT WERE THE PHARISEES LIKE IN THE BIBLE?
What does the Bible tell us about what the Pharisees were like?
In many ways, the Pharisees were the worst people in the world. They were cold and legalistic. At the same time, the Pharisees were the best people in the whole country. They were the holy men who kept the law; They passionately pursued purity and wanted nothing more than to live lives that were pleasing to God. They were sincere, though sincerely wrong.
There were never more than six thousand Pharisees in the country. They were known as “chaburah” or “the brotherhood”. They entered this brotherhood by taking an oath, in front of three witnesses, that they would spend their lives observing every detail of the scribal law.
That was the problem! The scribes had created the Mishnah, the writings that codified the scribal law. Then there was the Talmud, which is the commentary on the Mishnah. I have read of a rabbi who spent almost three years studying a chapter of the Mishnah.
A perfect illustration is seen in the simple law of the Sabbath. The Bible clearly tells the Israelite: “Do not work, do not carry burdens, but rest and sanctify it.”
Well, you had to define the job; cargo transportation had to be defined. For example, one might get enough milk for one drink, and carry a spoon that weighs no more than a fig.
It was the scribes and the Pharisees who found themselves embroiled in the discussion of whether, on the Sabbath, a woman could wear a brooch, a mother could carry her child, or a man could use his wooden leg. These were loads.
THE PHARISEES IN THE BIBLE ARE PRESENTED AS HYPOCRITES AND PROUD
The hypocrisy and pride of the Pharisees in the Bible
In the Gospels, the Pharisees are often presented as hypocritical and proud opponents of Jesus. The Lord said it bluntly: “They say, and do not. ” (Matthew 23:3). As a general rule, the Pharisees were self-righteous and conceited in their delusion that they pleased God because they kept the Law, or parts of it, at least.
As Jesus pointed out to them, as scrupulous as they were in following the finer points of ritualism, they were not up to God’s standard of holiness: “You leave out the most important of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. This was necessary to do, without ceasing to do that” (verse 23).
Not all Pharisees in the Bible opposed Jesus
Of course, not all the Pharisees opposed Jesus. Nicodemus was a Pharisee who rightly considered Jesus a teacher from God and honestly sought answers from Him (John 3:1–2). Nicodemus later defended Jesus before the Sanhedrin (John 7:50–51) and was present at Jesus’ crucifixion to help bury the Lord’s body (John 19:39). Some of the early Christians were also Pharisees (Acts 15:5).
The Apostle Paul was trained as a Pharisee, and his credentials in that group were excellent (Acts 26:5). Paul called himself “…a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, a persecutor of the church; as for righteousness which is in the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:5–6).
Paul discovered that his compliance with the Law could not produce true justice. After placing his trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross, he desired to “…be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which it is from God by faith” (Philippians 3:9). No one, not even the strictest Pharisee, is justified by keeping the Law (Galatians 3:11).
I hope this study on the Pharisees in the Bible is useful and a blessing to you. You can continue with the research on the Pharisees to enrich your knowledge and thus complete the subject a little more. Blessings.