When the terms "Pharisee" or "Pharisaism" are used, we usually picture hypocritical and arrogant people who considered themselves superior to other Jews of their time. While such ideas are not wrong, they do not get to the heart of the matter of Pharisaism, which has deeper roots than simply poor conduct and a haughty attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The term "Pharisee" derives from the Hebrew "\u201cpharash<\/em>\u201c, which means \u201cto be separated\u201d. However, the Pharisees were not only problematic in religious matters: the true source of their harmfulness was their political ambition to maintain the power they held over the people. During Roman rule, the Jewish religion in Israel was treated as Rome treated all the religions of the conquered peoples; that is, it was necessary for the Pharisaic leaders to make concessions to the rulers, accepting certain conditions\u2014including submission to the power of the state\u2014in order to remain in office. Jesus was, obviously, a threat to the power of the Pharisees in Israel. The result of this ambition was \u2014 in addition to the crucifixion of Jesus and the subsequent persecution of the apostles \u2014 something that remains to this day: the apostasy of the Jews, who, with the exception of the Messianic Jews, reject Jesus as the Messiah. The answer is "YES".
In doctrinal terms, the Pharisees saw themselves\u2014due to their extreme zeal for Jewish laws and the traditions derived from them\u2014as a group separate from other Jews. They considered that the Torah could be summarized in 613 traditions (developed from their own interpretations of the Law of Moses), and the observance of these traditions was constantly and relentlessly demanded by them from other Jews of their time.
Some of these traditions bordered on the absurd, such as one that forbade a person from looking in a mirror on Saturdays\u2026 this was because they might notice they had some gray hair, feel tempted to remove it, and by doing so, would be violating the absolute rest imposed by the Jewish Sabbath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Being considered authorities on the Torah, they were obeyed almost unconditionally by many. The few who dared to rebel against such tyranny were frequently summoned to the Sanhedrin and judged, practically always already condemned in advance through the summoning of bribed witnesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caiaphas \u2014 who belonged to the group of Pharisees and was the high priest at the time Jesus was condemned to crucifixion \u2014 certainly maintained good relations with Rome and Pilate, given his long tenure as high priest (about 18 years, something very rare at the time).
This becomes even more evident when one sees that he and his allies were received without any restrictions by the Roman governor when they plotted to hand Jesus over to the state so that he could be crucified (see in Matthew 27:1-2<\/mark><\/strong>; Mark 15:1<\/mark><\/strong> e Luke 23:1<\/mark><\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With his preaching centered on the original meaning of Mosaic Law, presenting the necessity of bloodshed for redemption and showing that true faith lay in waiting for the Messiah (see Colossians 2:16-17<\/mark><\/strong>He discredited the teachings and traditions of the Pharisees, who insisted on fulfilling the law according to their own interpretation (in addition to observing the 613 traditions they added), which only resulted in a heavy burden for the people and the maintenance of their tyranny and power, which were highly financially lucrative for them.
This should be enough to explain their hostility towards Jesus and the apostles\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
All because of these same ambitious Pharisees who, fearing to lose control over the people, bribed the guards to announce that Jesus had not risen from the dead, but that his body had been stolen by the disciples (check in Matthew 28:12-15<\/mark><\/strong>).
In short, the Pharisees were people who essentially claimed to be followers of God, practitioners of His precepts and observers of His laws, but who, in practice, prioritized their power and political ambition above their declared religiosity. Their supposed fear of God was merely a "facade," a disguise for their real intentions, which were to obtain and maintain their power over the people.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd today, are there any Pharisees left?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Although it is more difficult to perceive the error when one is immersed in it or surrounded by it, the truth is that the Pharisees of modern times continue to act in a manner very similar to those of the early Christian era.<\/p>\n\n\n