The Pharisees

The Pharisees : The name Pharisee in its Hebrew form means separatists, or the separated ones. Their enemies called them by that name. They were also known as chasidim, which means loyal to God, or loved of God; This was ironic as they opposed Jesus Christ. His message was very bitterly. They considered themselves as separate from their own people and from Gentiles. During the time of our Lord, they were self-righteous and used to insult others. Jesus Christ had strong words about the Pharisees (Matthew 23).  Historian Josephus says that they numbered about 6,000.  While the Pharisees primarily came from middle-class families and were zealous for the Mosaic law, the Sadducees were generally wealthy members of the Jewish aristocracy who had embraced Hellenism. The Pharisees maintained their leadership in spiritual matters, especially in urban circles.  It is true that the Sadducean high priests stood at the head of Sanhedrin.  On the other hand, it was the Pharisees, and not the Sadducees, who made the greatest impact on the ordinary people. The Pharisees had the masses for their allies, the women being especially devoted to them. They held the greatest authority over the congregations, so that everything that dealt with worship, prayers, and sacrifices took place according to their instructions.

Their popularity is said to have been so high that they were listened to even when they criticized the king or the high priest. They were therefore able to restrain the king.  For the same reason, also, the Sadducees in their official functions complied with the pharisaic requirements because otherwise the people would not have tolerated them. 

They observed two things: 1) adhered strictly to the letter, without making allowances for the spiritual intent 2) in collection of tithe. Later on, they create many meaningless laws and were considered equal to the Law and enforced it. They compelled the people in observing these burdensome laws.  They were only interested in external rituals. There was no relation between preaching and practice. Note our Lord’s hard words against their practice of only outside cleaning by saying, “you clean the outside” ( Matthew 23:25) and paying tithe (Luke 11:42, 18:12; Matthew 23:35). They argued that besides God, we have no other kings, and they fought with Herodians and Romans. They hated Jesus.

It must be noted that there were also some good people amongst them. They are: Hillel and his grandson Gamaliel (Acts 5:34) and St. Paul.