Topical Encyclopedia The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judaism during the Second Temple period, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions that they believed were equally authoritative. Their influence was significant in the religious, social, and political life of Israel, and they are frequently mentioned in the New Testament, often in opposition to Jesus Christ and His teachings.Oppressive Nature The Pharisees are often characterized in the New Testament as being oppressive in their application of the law. They imposed heavy burdens on the people, emphasizing external compliance over internal transformation. Jesus criticized them for their legalism and hypocrisy, highlighting their tendency to prioritize human traditions over the commandments of God. In Matthew 23:4 , Jesus describes the Pharisees' oppressive nature: "They tie up heavy, burdensome loads and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." This verse illustrates how the Pharisees created an environment of spiritual oppression by adding to the law and making it difficult for the average person to follow. Hypocrisy and Legalism The Pharisees' oppressive character is further demonstrated through their hypocrisy. They were known for their outward displays of piety, yet their hearts were far from God. In Matthew 23:27-28 , Jesus rebukes them, saying, "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." Their focus on legalism often led to a neglect of the more important aspects of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus points this out in Matthew 23:23 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin, but you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former." Conflict with Jesus The oppressive nature of the Pharisees brought them into frequent conflict with Jesus, who emphasized the spirit of the law rather than its letter. Jesus' teachings often challenged the Pharisees' interpretations and practices, leading to numerous confrontations. In Mark 7:6-9 , Jesus quotes Isaiah to highlight their misplaced priorities: "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." Impact on the People The Pharisees' oppressive character had a significant impact on the Jewish people of their time. Their emphasis on ritual purity and strict observance of the law created barriers between the religious elite and the common people. This division is evident in John 7:49 , where the Pharisees dismiss the crowd as ignorant: "But this crowd that does not know the law, they are accursed." The Pharisees' approach to the law often left the people feeling burdened and distant from God, as they were unable to meet the high standards set by the Pharisees. Jesus' message of grace and His call to a personal relationship with God offered a stark contrast to the oppressive legalism of the Pharisees, providing hope and freedom to those who felt weighed down by the demands of the law. Torrey's Topical Textbook Matthew 23:4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Not with Outward Show The Call of Matthew Bethesda and the Sanhedrin Opposition to Messiah Unreasonable The Healing of the Woman - Christ's Personal Appearance - the ... Paul Before Felix. Jesus at Capernaum. General Index. Calvary The Gentile Christian Theology. Paul and the Gospel of Faith. Resources What is the leaven of the Pharisees? | GotQuestions.orgWhy did John the Baptist refer to the Pharisees as a brood of vipers? | GotQuestions.org Why did Jesus refer to the Pharisees as a “child of hell” in Matthew 23:15? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Irony: The Pharisees and the Herodians to Jesus Pharisees: Association With Publicans and Sinners Pharisees: Become Disciples of Jesus Pharisees: Come to Jesus With Questions Pharisees: Concerning the Resurrection Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by Jesus Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by John Pharisees: They Minister to Jesus Pharisees: Traditions of, in Regard to Fasting Pharisees: Traditions of, in Regard to The Duties of Children to Parents Pharisees: Traditions of, in Regard to The Sabbath Pharisees: Traditions of, in Regard to The Washing of Hands The Pharisees by Descent, Especially Esteemed The Pharisees: A Sect of the Jews The Pharisees: As a Body, Rejected John's Baptism The Pharisees: Believed in the Resurrection The Pharisees: Character of Active in Proselytising The Pharisees: Character of Ambitious of Precedence The Pharisees: Character of Avaricious The Pharisees: Character of Cruel in Persecuting The Pharisees: Character of Fond of Distinguished Titles The Pharisees: Character of Fond of Public Salutations The Pharisees: Character of Oppressive The Pharisees: Character of Outwardly Moral The Pharisees: Character of Particular in Paying all Dues The Pharisees: Character of Rigid in Fasting The Pharisees: Character of Self-Righteous The Pharisees: Character of Zealous of the Law The Pharisees: Character of Zealous of Tradition The Pharisees: Christ: Asked for Signs By The Pharisees: Christ: Called Fools and Blind Guides The Pharisees: Christ: Called, and Evil and Adulterous Generation The Pharisees: Christ: Called, Serpents and Generation of Vipers The Pharisees: Christ: Compared, to Graves That Appear Not The Pharisees: Christ: Compared, to Whited Sepulchres The Pharisees: Christ: Condemned By, for Associating With Sinners The Pharisees: Christ: Declared the Doctrines of, to be Hypocrisy The Pharisees: Christ: Declared the Imaginary Righteousness of, to be Insufficient The Pharisees: Christ: Denounced Woes Against The Pharisees: Christ: Left Judea for a Time on Account of The Pharisees: Christ: Offended, by his Doctrine The Pharisees: Christ: Often Invited By The Pharisees: Christ: Tempted By, With Questions About the Law The Pharisees: Christ: Watched By, for Evil The Pharisees: Imputed Christ's Miracles to Satan's Power The Pharisees: Made Broad Their Phylacteries The Pharisees: Many Priest and Levites Were of The Pharisees: Many Rulers, Lawyers, and Scribes Were of The Pharisees: Often Sought to Destroy Christ The Pharisees: Sent officers to Apprehend Christ The Pharisees: some Came to John for Baptism The Pharisees: The Strictest Observers of the Mosaic Ritual The Pharisees: Their Opinions, a Standard for Others Related Terms The-not-beloved (1 Occurrence) Kir'iath-je'arim (18 Occurrences) Kirjathjearim (17 Occurrences) Vine-dressers (18 Occurrences) Kirjath-jearim (17 Occurrences) Kibroth-hattaavah (5 Occurrences) |
    |