The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish religious group active in the centuries leading up to and during the time of Jesus.
Their name is often linked to a Hebrew or Aramaic word meaning “separated ones.”
They were known for strict adherence to the Law of Moses and to the traditions of the elders that had developed around it.
In the Gospels they frequently appear as opponents of Jesus, yet some individual Pharisees showed openness to Him and to the early church.
The Pharisees emerged in the intertestamental period as a movement devoted to preserving Jewish identity and purity under foreign rule. By the first century they were influential among the common people for their careful observance of the Law and their belief in core doctrines such as the resurrection, angels, and the spiritual realm. They accepted both the written Torah and the oral traditions that interpreted and expanded it. Jesus repeatedly confronted them over hypocrisy, the elevation of human tradition above God’s Word, and a righteousness that focused on outward performance while neglecting justice, mercy, and the weightier matters of the Law. At the same time, the New Testament records that some Pharisees, such as Nicodemus and later the apostle Paul, came to faith in Christ. The Pharisees as a group illustrate both religious zeal and the danger of a religion that trusts in external conformity rather than a transformed heart.
- The Pharisees sought to live in strict separation from anything that would defile them according to their understanding of the Law and tradition.
- They held to the authority of both the written Scriptures and the oral traditions of the elders.
- They believed in the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels and spirits, and future judgment — doctrines that distinguished them from the Sadducees.
- Jesus criticized them for placing human tradition above the commandment of God and for practicing righteousness to be seen by others.
- Their conflicts with Jesus centered on issues such as Sabbath observance, ritual purity, fasting, association with sinners, and the source of His authority.
- Not every Pharisee was hostile; Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, and some Pharisees later defended the apostles or joined the church.
- Paul the apostle was a Pharisee before his conversion and continued to identify with that background even after coming to Christ.
- The Pharisees’ emphasis on careful obedience reminds us of the seriousness of God’s Law, while their failures warn against self-righteousness and the neglect of inward transformation.
¶ Key Characteristics and Conflicts
- Separation and Purity – Careful avoidance of ceremonial defilement and association with those considered unclean.
- Tradition of the Elders – Detailed oral interpretations and regulations that governed daily life.
- Doctrinal Positions – Belief in resurrection, angels, spirits, and divine providence (in contrast to the Sadducees).
- Public Righteousness – Practices such as extended prayer, fasting, and tithing that were often done to be noticed.
- Opposition to Jesus – Repeated challenges, attempts to trap Him in His words, and participation in the events leading to His arrest.
- Individual Exceptions – Figures such as Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea (associated with the council), and Paul show that membership in the group did not prevent genuine faith.
- Matthew 5:20 – “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
- Matthew 15:1-9 – Jesus confronts the Pharisees for breaking the commandment of God for the sake of their tradition.
- Matthew 23:1-36 – The extended series of woes against the scribes and Pharisees for hypocrisy, pride, and neglect of the weightier matters of the Law.
- Luke 18:9-14 – The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, illustrating self-righteousness versus humble repentance.
- John 3:1-21 – Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, comes to Jesus by night.
- Acts 5:34-39 – Gamaliel, a Pharisee in the council, advises caution regarding the apostles.
- Acts 23:6-8 – Paul identifies himself as a Pharisee and notes the doctrinal differences with the Sadducees concerning the resurrection.
- Philippians 3:5-6 – Paul describes his former life: “as to the law, a Pharisee… as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”
- Mark 7:5-13 – The Pharisees and scribes question why the disciples do not walk according to the tradition of the elders.
- Matthew 22:15-22 – Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus with a question about taxes to Caesar.
- John 9:13-34 – Pharisees investigate and reject the healing of the man born blind.
- Luke 11:37-44 – Jesus dines with a Pharisee and pronounces woes over their concern for outward cleanliness while neglecting inward justice and love for God.
The Pharisees were serious about holiness and the Law of God, yet many of them missed the heart of the very Scriptures they studied. Their story is a warning that religious zeal, careful outward obedience, and doctrinal correctness are not enough if the heart remains proud and far from God. Jesus called for a righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees — not by adding more rules, but by a transformed heart that loves God and neighbor from the inside out. At the same time, the presence of Pharisees who came to faith reminds us that no religious background places a person beyond the reach of grace. The same Jesus who confronted hypocrisy also welcomed the seeking heart of Nicodemus and transformed the zealous Pharisee Saul into the apostle Paul.
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