The Pharisees
The Pharisees: Dedicated Students of Scripture Who Often Missed the Messiah
The Pharisees
Who Were the Pharisees?
The Pharisees were one of the most influential religious groups in Israel during the time of Jesus.
They were highly respected for their knowledge of Scripture, commitment to religious traditions, and desire to obey God’s Law.
Many ordinary Jewish people admired them because they appeared deeply devoted to God.
The Pharisees were not priests.
Most were teachers, scholars, community leaders, or laymen who devoted themselves to studying and applying God’s Word.
Throughout the Gospels, the Pharisees frequently interacted with Jesus.
Sometimes they listened.
Sometimes they questioned.
Often they opposed Him.
Yet not all Pharisees responded to Jesus in the same way.
What Did the Pharisees Believe?
The Pharisees believed:
The entire Old Testament was God’s Word.
In angels and spiritual beings.
In miracles.
In the resurrection of the dead.
In future judgment.
In God’s coming Kingdom.
Many of these beliefs were actually correct and are shared by Christians today.
Their problem was not usually their theology.
Their problem was often their hearts.
Why Were They So Influential?
The Pharisees focused on helping ordinary people obey God’s Law in everyday life.
Unlike the Sadducees, whose influence centered around the Temple, the Pharisees were active in local synagogues and communities.
They taught Scripture.
Led discussions.
Answered religious questions.
Influenced how people understood God’s commands.
Because of this, they held tremendous influence among the people.
The Oral Tradition
Over many generations, Jewish teachers developed additional rules and traditions designed to help people obey God’s Law.
These traditions became known as the Oral Law.
The Pharisees valued these traditions highly.
Many believed they were just as important as Scripture itself.
Jesus often challenged this approach.
He taught that human traditions must never replace God’s Word.
Why Did Jesus Clash With the Pharisees?
The conflict was not because Jesus opposed God’s Law.
Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s Law.
The conflict arose because many Pharisees focused on external behavior while neglecting the heart.
Jesus taught that true righteousness begins inside a person.
He criticized:
Hypocrisy
Pride
Legalism
Self-righteousness
Seeking public praise
Adding human traditions to God’s commands
Jesus said:
“This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.” (Mark 7:6 NASB)
Important Encounters With Pharisees
Nicodemus Visits Jesus
John 3
Nicodemus was a Pharisee who came to Jesus seeking understanding.
Jesus explained the need to be “born again.”
Nicodemus later defended Jesus and helped bury Him.
The Woman Caught in Adultery
John 8
Religious leaders attempted to trap Jesus with a difficult legal question.
Jesus responded with wisdom and mercy.
The Sabbath Controversies
Throughout the Gospels, Pharisees criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath.
Jesus taught that people matter more than legalistic interpretations of rules.
The Seven Woes
Matthew 23
Jesus strongly rebuked religious leaders for hypocrisy and spiritual pride.
These warnings were not expressions of hatred.
They were calls to repentance.
Were All Pharisees Bad?
No.
The Gospels often focus on conflicts between Jesus and certain Pharisees.
However, several Pharisees responded positively to Jesus.
Examples include:
Nicodemus
Joseph of Arimathea (possibly associated with Pharisaic beliefs)
Some Pharisees who later became Christians
The Apostle Paul had been a Pharisee before becoming a follower of Christ.
The problem was not belonging to the Pharisees.
The problem was refusing to follow the truth when it was revealed.
The Pharisees and Paul
Before meeting Jesus, Paul was a Pharisee.
He described himself as:
“a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees.” (Acts 23:6)
After encountering Christ, Paul came to understand that salvation comes through faith rather than religious achievement.
His story demonstrates that even the most devoted religious person still needs Jesus.
Why This Matters for Understanding Jesus
The Pharisees appear throughout the Gospels.
Understanding them helps explain:
Why Jesus was questioned so often
Why Sabbath controversies occurred
Why debates about tradition were important
Why religious leaders opposed Jesus
Why Jesus emphasized humility and genuine faith
The Pharisees were not villains in a simple story.
They were sincere religious people who often missed the Messiah standing in front of them.
Missing Context Check
Modern readers sometimes assume Pharisees were simply evil people.
That is not accurate.
Many were sincere, moral, and deeply religious.
Their greatest danger was believing that outward religious behavior was enough.
Jesus repeatedly taught that God desires transformed hearts, not merely outward conformity.
This warning remains relevant today.
Key Lessons From the Pharisees
Knowing Scripture is important.
Obedience matters.
Religious activity alone cannot save.
Pride can blind people to truth.
God desires both truth and humility.
A transformed heart matters more than outward appearances.
Related Lessons
Season 3: Jesus Begins His Ministry
3.8 The Parables of the Kingdom
Season 4: Miracles, Opposition, and Growing Faith
Season 5: Revealing the King
Season 7: The Final Week of Jesus
Related Pages
Understanding Jesus: Cultural Insights
The Temple in the Time of Jesus
Synagogues in the Time of Jesus
Scribes and Teachers of the Law
Feasts and Festivals in the Time of Jesus
The Pharisees remind us that it is possible to know a great deal about God while still missing what God is doing. Jesus continually called people beyond outward religion to a genuine relationship with God marked by faith, humility, and obedience.
Learn more about Christian discipleship and spiritual growth through worship, study, prayer, service, and daily faith at PGUM.org.
