Pharisees
As a child growing up in the church, admittedly, I had acquired a negative view of the Pharisees. The dark villains of many Sunday school stories and their combative portrayal in the Gospel readings, it seemed the word ‘Pharisee’ was an acceptable form of a curse word. However, I recall
As a child growing up in the church, admittedly, I had acquired a negative view of the Pharisees. The dark villains of many Sunday school stories and their combative portrayal in the Gospel readings, it seemed the word ‘Pharisee’ was an acceptable form of a curse word. However, I recall the moment, much later, when I began to study deeper and found this to be extremely inaccurate.
A careful and objective study of the Pharisees, their worldview(s), and their general thinking process has brought me to an entirely new place. Getting it wrong is not inconsequential; understanding the context and nuance surrounding the Pharisees will become an increasingly vital tool for understanding the New Testament.
Without knowledge and insight, the former conclusions are all too easy to develop. If not for the groundwork the Pharisees laid, their interpretations that point to and pave the way for a Messiah, and their tireless fight to bring the Torah to the masses, the world would look very different today.
Who are the Pharisees?
Tracing their roots back to the time of the Maccabees (cir. 175BC), the Pharisees were a group within the broader Jewish spectrum who took on a role to challenge the increasing corruption that began to emerge in the priesthood during the late Second Temple era.
At a time when the position of High Priest was sold to the highest bidder, the Torah became trampled in the dash for political expediency. Not willing to let that happen, the Pharisees arose to speak truth to power, many times losing their lives in the process.
They were “esteemed” by the everyday people, according to Josephus. This is because they were deeply involved in their communities, seeking to bring resources (financial, food, education, and other charity) to the people across the land of Israel. Their schools and influence went a long way toward preserving the traditions and democratizing the wisdom of the Creator for everyone.
Some suggest that the Pharisees were not the same as the Rabbis of the time and were somewhat of an offshoot. The Talmud indicates some degree of nuance lending credibility to this idea.
Two Schools of Pharisees
It might surprise some, but the Pharisees were not a homogenous sect that shared the same beliefs. There was great diversity in thought, which led to many discussions for which they are commonly known. This is why many of Yeshua’s teachings agree or align with one group or another. This should not be surprising to us for, as a young child, Yeshua was said to have been sitting at the feet of the elders, learning and asking questions.
