What were the Pharisees?

Answer 1

The Pharisees were a Jewish sect who prided themselves on strict and scrupulous adherence to the letter of the Mosaic law.

A Pharisee was a highly strict enforcer of the the traditional law of Moses. Anyone who would do anything that opposed those laws at any amount would either be criticized in public about what they were doing, they would be brought before the court of religious law because that person was reported by a Pharisee. Most of the Pharisees would also be given orders to have people arrested who didn't follow certain customs or traditions.

The Perushim (Pharisees in English) believed that God gave the Jews both a written and an oral Torah, both of which were equally binding and both of which were open to interpretation by rabbis. Pharisees were devoted to the study of Torah and the education of all people, regardless of status in society.

The Perushim detested hypocrisy and actively sought it out and criticized it whenever they encountered it. Examples of this hatred of hypocrisy can be found in the Gemara in Sotah 22B with several caricatures. They strongly denounce the pious man who cared more for his own purity than for human life; for the young woman who's overly zealous in her devotions; the widow who showed off her religious observance; and to the self-appointed Torah decisors who lacked the knowledge and qualifications to do the job.

Additionally, contrary to their main counterparts, the Tzedukim (Sadducees in English), the Perushim were strong opponents of cultural assimilation.

The Perushim were the only movement to survive the destruction of the Second Temple and were the ancestors of modern Judaism.

Answer 2

At the time of Jesus Christ, the Scribes and the Pharisees were the keepers, interpreters, and teachers of the spiritual and moral law of Judaism, performing the same function in the Jewish community that the Magisterium does in the Catholic Church. During this time, the Jews, though subjects of the Roman Empire, were allowed to practice their unique, monotheistic religion. The Scribes and the Pharisees kept alive the faith, which made up the entire life of a devout Jew. They not only kept the law and interpreted it, but they taught it and the faith to their fellow Jews and helped to govern their people, while still under Rome's authority.

Answer 3

Today, the word "Pharisee" is usually used to refer to someone who is very legalistic and judgmental. It has its origin in the Biblical description of a group of Jews in New Testament times.

Of the three major religious societies of Judaism at the time of the New Testament (the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Essenes), the Pharisees were often the most vocal and influential. The origin of the Pharisees is uncertain, but their movement is believed to have grown from the Assideans (i.e., the "pious"), who began in the time of the Maccabean Revolt against the Greek/Syrian ruler "Antiochus Epiphanes," around 165 B.C.

Jewish Answer

The Pharisees believed that HaShem gave the Jews both a written and an oral Torah, both of which were equally binding and both of which were open to interpretation by rabbis. Pharisees were devoted to the study of Torah and the education of all people, regardless of status in society.

The Pharisees detested hypocrisy and actively sought it out and criticized it whenever they encountered it. Examples of this hatred of hypocrisy can be found in the Gemara in Sotah 22B with several caricatures. They strongly denounce the pious man who cared more for his own purity than for human life; for the young woman who's overly zealous in her devotions; the widow who showed of her religious observance; and to the self-appointed Torah decisors who lacked the knowledge and qualifications to do the job.

The Pharisees were the only movement to survive the destruction of the Second Temple and were the ancestors of modern Judaism.

The Pharisees were at various times a political party, a social movement, and a school of thought among Jews during the Second Temple period beginning under the Hasmonean dynasty (140-37 BCE) in the wake of the Maccabean Revolt. A pharisee are that various times at political party's. This is at social movements and schools.

Answer 4

The Pharisees were one of several sects within Judaism. Contrary to how they are portrayed in the Christian scriptures, they were decent men, very devout, and they strived to uphold the word of G-d.

The scribes were the men entrusted with the vital task of writing out the Torah scrolls; each had to be copied out by hand, and if even ONE error was made, the entire scroll had to be discarded. We are not allowed to change the Torah by even a single letter, and this is something that Jews have always taken extremely seriously.

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Answer 5

The Pharisees were post-biblical and are the ancestors of modern day rabbinical Judaism.

Answer:

"Then spake Jesus to the multitude... The scribes and the Pharisees SIT IN MOSES' SEAT: all therefore whatsoever they bid you obeserve, that observe and do..." (Matt.23:2-3).

The scribes and Pharisees [sitting in Moses' seat], preserved and taught the scriptures and the laws of God. They made lawful judgments among the people based on the scriptures in matters of civil and religious disputes, conduct, etc, [court cases, as it were... a modern profession still required among men and nations].

People argue, complain and don't get along.

"And it came to pass on the morrow, that Moses sat [in Moses' seat] to judge the people: and the people stood by Moses from the morning unto the evening...

"...Moses said unto his father in law... the people come unto me to inquire of God: when they have a matter, they come unto me; and I judge between one another, and I do make them know the statutes of God, and His laws." (Ex.18:13-16)

The job was too big for one man... so judging became delegated to others.

"Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to Him. Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform.

"But select capable men from all the people -- men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain -- and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.

"Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves.

"That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied." (Ex.18:19-23 NIV)

Although not all men who judge in the world fear God, are trustworthy and hate dishonest gain... these scriptures describe the basis for America's judicial system. A good system in its concept.

But, as anything else that involves the fluid ingredient of human nature... law enforcement, too, knows corruption.

Even Jesus admitted to the corruption of the "judges" appointed over the people... and warned the people to obey the laws that those who judged among them commanded them to... but:

"...do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach... (Matt.23:3 NIV).

Jesus called these corrupt judges, the scribes and Pharisees; hypocrites, snakes and a brood of vipers. Their position was to represent God before the people [Moses' seat]. It's a daunting job for the most righteous of men, to which God holds them to the highest of Godly standards, morals and values.

And Jesus announced, publicly, His displeasure in their performance.

These were the scribes and Pharisees.

Answer 6

The Pharisees were one of the two largest Jewish sects in the first half of the first century CE. Whereas the Sadducees were the sect that supported, and had the support of, wealthy Jews, the Pharisees were more concerned with middle-clas and poorer Jews. They were noted for their willingness to accept foreign rule, such as by the Romans.

Some say that the word "Pharisee" came from "Farsi", a reference to their former Persian rulers, and to the fact that Pharisee beliefs were in some ways in accord with those of the Persian religion.

Answer 7

The Jewish group that concentrated on the study, teaching and application of the Torah in every century was and is the Torah-sages and their many disciples, from Abraham down to today.
The word "Pharisees," which is based on a Greek misspelling used by Josephus, actually refers to the Sages of the Talmud. (The Hebrew word "p'rushim," to which he referred, means people of temperance; the opposite of epicurean.)The Torah-sages such as Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel, Chanina ben Dosa, Bava ben Buta, Shimon ben Hillel, Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Akiva, and hundreds of others, were active at that time and their yeshivot (Torah-academies) were flourishing. Their tens of thousands of disciples and hundreds of thousands of sympathizers were active in the Jewish world in that generation; they were the leaders and the forefront of Judaism.

Josephus talks of three groups among the Jews in late Second-Temple times: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. This may convey the mistaken impression that the Pharisees were just one "sect" among others, when in fact Josephus himself admits that the Pharisees (Torah-sages) with their disciples and followers constituted the large majority of the Jewish people. As he himself writes (Antiquities book 18), "the cities give great attestations to them."
Although the Christian Testament portrays them poorly, in fact the Pharisees were very egalitarian. They taught that all men were created in God's image and that all had the same rights, and the same right to an education, etc. They were devoted to the practicing of kindness, charity, the fulfillment of mitzvot, the study and teaching of Torah and the education of all people, regardless of status in society. They detested hypocrisy and actively sought it out and criticized it whenever they encountered it.

The Pharisees were the only movement to survive the destruction of the Second Temple and were the ancestors of modern Judaism.
Our traditional Jewish beliefs today, including the afterlife and the resurrection, are traditions continuing from the Prophets and the Sages of the Talmud ("Pharisees").

Answer 8

The Jewish group that concentrated on the study, teaching and application of the Torah in every century was and is the Torah-sages and their many disciples, from Abraham down to today.
The word "Pharisees," which is based on a Greek misspelling used by Josephus, actually refers to the Sages of the Talmud. (The Hebrew word "p'rushim," to which he referred, means people of temperance; the opposite of epicurean.)The Torah-sages such as Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, Rabbi Yonatan ben Uziel, Chanina ben Dosa, Bava ben Buta, Shimon ben Hillel, Rabbi Eliezer, Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Akiva, and hundreds of others, were active at that time and their yeshivot (Torah-academies) were flourishing. Their tens of thousands of disciples and hundreds of thousands of sympathizers were active in the Jewish world in that generation; they were the leaders and the forefront of Judaism.

• Link: The Torah-sages

Josephus talks of three groups among the Jews in late Second-Temple times: Pharisees, Sadducees, and Essenes. This may convey the mistaken impression that the Pharisees were just one "sect" among others, when in fact Josephus himself admits that the Pharisees (Torah-sages) with their disciples and followers constituted the large majority of the Jewish people. As he himself writes (Antiquities book 18), "the cities give great attestations to them."
Although the Christian Testament portrays them poorly, in fact the Pharisees were very egalitarian. They taught that all men were created in God's image and that all had the same rights, and the same right to an education, etc. They were devoted to the practicing of kindness, charity, the fulfillment of mitzvot, the study and teaching of Torah and the education of all people, regardless of status in society. They detested hypocrisy and actively sought it out and criticized it whenever they encountered it.

The Pharisees were the only movement to survive the destruction of the Second Temple and were the ancestors of modern Judaism.
Our traditional Jewish beliefs today, including the afterlife and the resurrection, are traditions continuing from the Prophets and the Sages of the Talmud ("Pharisees").

See also the other Related Links.

Link: More ancient Jewish groups

Link: Jewish history timeline