Topical Encyclopedia The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judea during the time of Jesus Christ, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the traditions of the elders. They are frequently mentioned in the New Testament, often in the context of their interactions with Jesus. The Pharisees are depicted as being deeply concerned with outward appearances and the meticulous observance of religious rituals, yet they are often criticized by Jesus for their hypocrisy and deceit.Hypocrisy and Deceit The Pharisees are often associated with deceit due to their tendency to prioritize external compliance with the law over genuine spiritual transformation. Jesus frequently rebuked them for their hypocrisy, as they appeared righteous outwardly but were inwardly corrupt. In Matthew 23:27-28 (BSB), Jesus says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness." Legalism and Tradition The Pharisees' deceit is also evident in their legalistic approach to the law. They often manipulated the law to suit their purposes, creating loopholes that allowed them to circumvent the spirit of the law while maintaining an appearance of piety. In Mark 7:6-9 (BSB), Jesus addresses this issue: "Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’ You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men. And He went on to say, 'You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.'" Opposition to Jesus The Pharisees' deceit is further highlighted in their opposition to Jesus. They often sought to trap Him with questions and accusations, attempting to undermine His authority and discredit His teachings. In Matthew 22:15-18 (BSB), it is recorded, "Then the Pharisees went out and plotted to trap Jesus in His words. They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. 'Teacher,' they said, 'we know that You are honest and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?' But Jesus knew their evil intent and said, 'You hypocrites, why are you testing Me?'" Self-Righteousness and Spiritual Blindness The Pharisees' deceit is also characterized by their self-righteousness and spiritual blindness. They believed themselves to be the guardians of religious truth, yet they failed to recognize Jesus as the Messiah. In John 9:39-41 (BSB), Jesus addresses their spiritual blindness: "Jesus said, 'For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.' Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked, 'Are we blind too?' Jesus replied, 'If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.'" Conclusion The Pharisees serve as a cautionary example of how religious devotion can be corrupted by deceit and hypocrisy. Their focus on external observance and human tradition led them to miss the heart of God's law and the truth of the Gospel. Their interactions with Jesus reveal the dangers of self-righteousness and the importance of genuine faith and humility before God. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 22:16And they sent out to him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, Master, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God in truth, neither care you for any man: for you regard not the person of men. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Why the Pharisees Asked a Sign from Heaven. Then Went the Pharisees and Considered How they Might Ensnare Him ... And Jesus Knew Within Himself that his Disciples were Murmuring ... Rejection of the Tradition of the Elders. Things which Defile Jesus Fails to Attend the Third Passover. Never a Man Like Him Jesus Tells what it Means to be Clean The Conjurations of the Jewish Exorcists. (Luke, xi. , 23-26. ) Therefore, Behold, I, the Wisdom of God, am Sending unto You ... Resources Who was Nathanael in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgWhy does God allow deception? | GotQuestions.org What are elemental spirits? | GotQuestions.org Deceit: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Deceit: A Characteristic of Antichrist Deceit: A Characteristic of the Apostasy Deceit: Blessedness of Being Free From Deceit: Characteristic of the Apostasy Deceit: Characteristic of the Heart Deceit: Christ Was Perfectly Free From Deceit: Evil of Hinders Knowledge of God Deceit: Evil of Keeps from Knowledge of God Deceit: Evil of Keeps from Turning to God Deceit: Evil of Leads to Lying Deceit: Evil of Leads to Pride and Oppression Deceit: False Teachers are Workers of Deceit: False Teachers: Impose on Others By Deceit: False Teachers: Preach Deceit: False Teachers: Sport Themselves With Deceit: Hatred often Concealed By Deceit: Keeps from Turning to God Deceit: Leads: To Pride and Oppression Deceit: Ministers should Lay Aside Deceit: Often Accompanied by Fraud and Injustice Deceit: Saints: Delivered from Those Who Use Deceit: Saints: Pray for Deliverance from Those Who Use Deceit: Saints: Purpose Against Deceit: Saints: Purposed Against Deceit: Saints: should Beware of Those Who Teach Deceit: Saints: should Lay Aside, in Seeking Truth Deceit: Saints: Shun Those Addicted To Deceit: The Kisses of an Enemy Are Deceit: The Tongue is an Instrument of Deceit: The Tongue, the Instrument of Deceit: The Wicked are Full of Deceit: The Wicked: Delight In Deceit: The Wicked: Increase In Deceit: The Wicked: Use, to Each Other Deceit: The Wicked: Use, to Themselves Related Terms |