The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judea during the Second Temple period, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the traditions of the elders. Their name, derived from the Hebrew "Perushim," means "separated ones," reflecting their emphasis on ritual purity and separation from what they considered to be the corrupting influences of Hellenistic culture and lax religious practices.

Self-Righteousness and Legalism

The Pharisees are often depicted in the New Testament as embodying self-righteousness and legalism. They were meticulous in their observance of the law, often adding their own traditions and interpretations to ensure compliance. This focus on external adherence sometimes led to a neglect of the law's deeper, spiritual intentions. Jesus frequently criticized the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and self-righteousness, emphasizing that their outward displays of piety were not matched by inward righteousness.

In Matthew 23:27-28 , Jesus rebukes the Pharisees, 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." This passage highlights the contrast between their external religious observance and their internal moral state.

Pride and Self-Exaltation

The Pharisees' self-righteousness was often accompanied by pride and a desire for self-exaltation. They sought recognition and honor from others, valuing the praise of men over the approval of God. In Matthew 23:5-7 , Jesus describes their behavior: "All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed."

This pursuit of status and recognition was a significant aspect of their self-righteous character, as they prioritized human accolades over genuine humility and service to God.

Neglect of Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness

While the Pharisees were diligent in tithing and other ritualistic practices, they often neglected the weightier matters of the law, such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus highlights this imbalance in Matthew 23:23 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin, but you have neglected the more important matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former."

Their focus on minor legalistic details at the expense of fundamental moral principles exemplified their self-righteous character, as they failed to grasp the heart of God's commandments.

Blindness to Spiritual Truth

The Pharisees' self-righteousness also manifested in their spiritual blindness. Despite their extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, they often failed to recognize the truth of Jesus' teachings and His identity as the Messiah. In John 9:39-41 , 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.'"

Their inability to see beyond their own self-righteousness and legalistic interpretations prevented them from understanding the true nature of God's kingdom and the message of salvation that Jesus brought.

Conclusion

The Pharisees serve as a cautionary example of the dangers of self-righteousness, legalism, and spiritual pride. Their focus on external observance, desire for human recognition, neglect of core moral principles, and spiritual blindness are lessons for all believers to seek genuine humility, mercy, and faithfulness in their walk with God.Luke 16:15
And he said to them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Luke 18:9
And he spoke this parable to certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

The Three Last Parables of the Per??an Series: the Unrighteous ...
... as that of Righteousness, the character and position ... righteousness of the Scribes
and Pharisees, ye shall ... the exhibition of a self-righteous, unmerciful spirit ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xix the three last.htm

The Pharisee and Publican
... Christian charity: for we are all self-righteous by nature ... or a Publican." And the
Pharisees thought it ... sufficient impeachment of our Lord's character, that he ...
/.../whitefield/selected sermons of george whitefield/the pharisee and publican.htm

The Publicans' Friend
... He cannot come to the self-righteous heart ... before we can see Him in His true character,
or be ... Pharisees had nothing in common with John's disciples, except some ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the publicans friend.htm

The Pharisee and the Publican.
... not: it concerned all who were self-righteous, to whatever ... of the leaven of the
Pharisees, which is ... were diverse; but in essential character the sinfulness was ...
/.../arnot/the parables of our lord/xxix the pharisee and the.htm

The Third Day in Pasion-Week - the Last Series of Parables: to the ...
... than that implied in his word and character. ... of obligations undertaken, represented
the Pharisees with their ... and, while the self-righteous Pharisees had not ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter v the third day.htm

The Two Sons.
... parable was not exhausted when the Pharisees died out ... so surely the various classes
of human character which he ... that in this glass all the self-righteous to the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/arnot/the parables of our lord/x the two sons.htm

The Woman Taken in Adultery.
... that is the true touchstone of character; and he ... These scribes and Pharisees, when
they dragged this ... convinced them how hollow this self-righteous spirit was. ...
/.../the expositors bible the gospel of st john vol i/xvii the woman taken in.htm

Love and Forgiveness
... character stands here"the unloving and self-righteous man, all ... is the antithesis
of the woman and her character. ... no use for us to condemn Pharisees that have ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/love and forgiveness.htm

Preface.
... which in its searching and self-revelatory character is a ... and severe towards the
hardened and self-righteous sinner, in ... the Son of God to the Pharisees: "If ye ...
//christianbookshelf.org/shedd/sermons to the natural man/preface.htm

The Herald of the King
... are the best explication of the character and work of ... gives as addressed to the
Pharisees and Sadducees. ... Self-righteous pedants who had turned religion into a ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture a/the herald of the king.htm

If Jesus condemned the Pharisees for praying out loud, should we pray aloud? | GotQuestions.org

What was Jesus writing in the dirt/sand when the Pharisees brought to Him a woman caught in adultery? | GotQuestions.org

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