Who is a Pharisee?

Most people know enough about this group from the New Testament to conclude that they should not be like them. Just saying the word "Pharisee" causes many negative thoughts to go through our minds. The name "Pharisee," no doubt like other terms, is misused by many individuals. The term "missionary society" is a good example of an often misused term. Sometimes if a person is against a work, he will liken it to a "missionary society" and immediately others will join in and oppose this work. Today some who do not like a person or where he stands may refer to that person as a "Pharisee." That is all it takes for some uninformed brethren, and they, too, are opposed to that man.

Who were these people we read about in the New Testament called "Pharisees?" There were three prominent sects among the Jews. The first group we will mention was the Essenes. Concerning freedom of will, this group believed that fate ruled all things. The second group was the Pharisees. The name comes from a Greek word meaning "to separate." They were separated by special practices. They believed they were "more holy" than others. Concerning freedom of will the Pharisees believed some things were ruled by fate but not all things. The third group was the Sadducees. This group believed there was no such thing as fate. They also denied the existence of angels, spirits and the resurrection of the dead.

The best insights concerning the Pharisees come to us from the pages of the New Testament. They were righteous but only to a small degree. "For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 5:20) They were often offended by the truth. "Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?" (Matt. 15:12). They were not honest with the truth. "The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause?" (Matt. 19:3). "Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk" (Matt. 22:15). Many of them rejected Jesus and prevented others from coming to the truth. "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in" (Matt. 23:13). "Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue" (John 12:42). They sought to bind their opinions as law. "But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses" (Acts 15:5). The Pharisees felt that they were better than other people. "But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?" (Luke 5:30). "The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess" (Luke 18:11-12). They were covetous. "And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him" (Luke 16:14). They made many false accusations against Christ. "Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner" (Luke 7:39).

Jesus gave several warnings about the Pharisees. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation" (Matt. 23:14). "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone" (Matt. 23:23). "But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?" (Matt. 3:7).

One should not be likened unto the Pharisees today just because he keeps laws and wants to do Bible things in Bible ways. One is not a Pharisee just because he is zealous or knows that he knows the truth.  Who then today is likened unto the Pharisees of old? There are those today who might be called "educated idiots." These are the ones who feel they alone are qualified to explain the Bible. Some of these men are so educated they no longer believe in many of the stories of the Old Testament. They are not sure that the Bible is to be taken literally. These are Pharisees. Another group that reminds us a great deal of the Pharisees today is the group that condemns the condemners. That's right, they are quick to condemn the faithful brethren who speak out against error. Many times those in this group will call the names of gospel preachers and condemn them for calling the names of preachers who teach error. Hypocrites! Just like the Pharisees of old these men say and do not. Just like the Pharisees of old, modern-day Pharisees are offended by the truth. They do not want to hear what the Bible teaches on the subject of fellowship, church discipline and a host of other topics. Modern Pharisees preach the truth on many subjects but they have some topics they will not teach on because they would condemn themselves. Pharisees of today like to have the chief seats on brotherhood lectureships. They often appear on the same programs with known false teachers and say nothing about these men. Modern Pharisees, like their ancestors, omit the weightier matters. One of the most important issues facing the Lord's Church today is the subject of fellowship. Modern Pharisees do not want to talk about passages dealing with fellowship. When was the last time you heard one of them deal with these passages? "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rom. 16:17-18). "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them" (Eph. 5:11). "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds" (II John 9-11). Modern Pharisees seek to destroy the righteous just as in the days of Jesus. They are very kind and loving until you cross them and then you see their true colors. The early church had to face the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They were great enemies of the truth then as they are today. We should look closely at those with whom we come in contact. Pharisees are not always easy to identify. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them" (Luke 11:44).
—Ronald D. Gilbert