MEANING, ORIGIN AND HISTORY OF THE PHARISEES

MEANING OF THE PHARISEES

The term “PHARISEES” refers to a Jewish religious group that existed during the second temple
period in ancient Israel, around the time of Jesus. THE PHARISEES were a JEWISH SECT that emerged
c.150 BCE and promoted the idea of priestly purity for all Jews, belief in providence or fate, and the concept
of the resurrection and they emphasized that besides the commandments ORAL LAW was also passed down
by Moses.
The Pharisees is an ancient Jewish group who laid the foundation for what would become “Rabbinic
Judaism” ( This term held the fact that at Mount Sinai, God revealed the Torah to Moses in two media, the
WRITTEN and the ORAL TORAH). The Pharisees were a unique group and often considered as Influential
groups not just in Judaism, But in the history of the Holy land. The term “PHARISEES” during the time of
Jesus is sometimes used pejoratively ( i.e belittling/ degrading) to describe someone who is self-righteous or
hypocritical, but it’s also important to remember that the historical Pharisees played a significant role in
shaping Jewish religious practices and beliefs during their time. ( e.g Matthew 23:1-3). N/B: (i) In the
Christian world, Pharisees were members of a party that believed in resurrection and in following legal
traditions that were ascribed not to the bible but to “The traditions of the fathers”. (ii) The Pharisees
promoted the idea that all Jews should adopt this priestly purity as well as temple rituals in their everyday
lives. (iii) They were known for their strict adherence to religious laws and traditions as well as their
interpretation of the Torah.

ORIGIN OF THE PHARISEES

The word “Pharisees” comes from the Hebrew word “ PERUSHIM” which means “Separated Ones”;
Hence, the Pharisees believed that they were a special, holy group who were set apart from the rest of the
people. They took great pride in their piety ( devotion/faith) and religious observance .
This religious sect is thought to have originated in the second century B.C. in the days preceding the
Maccabean wars. It had its root in the tradition of the Hasidim-a group of which resisted the inroad of a
Greek culture [Hellenism] into the Jewish life in the second century B.C.
The origin of the Pharisees has a distinct religious group in ancient Israel are not certainly clear, but they
likely emerged during the second temple period, which started around the 5th century BCE and
continued until the destruction of the second temple in 70CE. Several factors contributed to their
developments are:
1. Response to Hellenistic Influence: The conquests of Alexander the Great and the subsequent
Hellenistic influence on the region had a significant impact on Jewish society. The Pharisees are
believed to have arisen in response to this influence as a group of Jews who sought to maintain their
identity and traditions.
2. Emphasis on Oral Law: The Pharisees emphasized the importance of the oral interpretation and
transmission of Jewish religious law, alongside with the written Torah. They believe in the authority
of oral tradition, which they consider essential for interpreting and applying the written law.
3. Popular Religious Movement: The Pharisees gained popularity among the common Jewish people
due to their commitment to religious observance and their accessibility. They were often seen as
advocates for the common folk (lineage/tribe), in contrast to other religious groups like the
Sadducees.
4. Focus on Ethics: The Pharisees placed a strong emphasis on ethical behavior and personal piety.
They believed in living a holy and righteous life and were concerned with moral and ethical conduct.
 HISTORY OF THE PHARISEES
The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group that emerged during the second temple period in the
ancient Israel, which began around the 5th century BCE and continued until the destruction of the
second temple in 70CE. Their history is marked by religious, social, and political development:
1. Origin and Emergence: The exact origins of the Pharisees were not well documented, but they likely
arose in response to external influences, particularly the Hellenistic culture introduced by Alexander
the Great’s conquests. After the conquest of Alexander The Great (336-323BCE) in 330BCE, Greek
government, languages, philosophy, religion, and education, were adopted by the conquered people
in the “Mediterranean” Basin. When Alexander died in 323BCE, his empire was divided up among
his generals, Seleucius I Nicator founded “the Seleucid Empire” in the region of Syria. This is the
period when we find evidence of what scholars term “Jewish Sectarianism”. Various groups of Jews
formed sect within the religious body. All agreed on the basics under the law of Moses and the boos
of the prophets. One of the dominating issues was how to live in this now cosmopolitan “Greek
Culture” and yet retain the unique identity markers and traditions of the Jews. Among this sects, we
see the emergence of a group known as “Pharisees”. Their names remains problematic, it may either
mean “to be separated” or “smoothers of rough things” in Hebrew as they made it their mission to
distance themselves from any influence that did not fall in line with their interpretation of the Torah
and Jewish Traditions.
2. Oral Law and Interpretation: The Pharisees were characterized by their strong emphasis on the oral
interpretation and transmission of Jewish religious laws alongside with the Written Torah. They
believed in the authority of the oral tradition to interpret and adapt the written laws to changing
circumstances.
3. Conflict with the Sadducees: The Pharisees often clashed with another prominent Jewish group, the
Sadducees. The Sadducees were more conservative and rejected the authority of the Oral law. This
led to disputes over religious interpretations and practices.
4. Roles in the Synagogue development: The Pharisees played a role in the development of the
Synagogue as centers for communal prayers, study, and discussions. This was significant because it
allowed Jewish religious life to continue outside of the temple, which became more critical after the
temple’s destruction in 70CE.
5. Influence on Rabbinic Judaism: After the fall of the second temple, the Pharisees involved into early
rabbis. They played a significant role in the development of Rabbinic Judaism, contributing to the
‘Mishnah’ and ‘Talmud’, two essential texts in Jewish law and tradition.

COMPOSITION AND ORGANISATION OF THE PHARISEES

Composition of the Pharisees
The Pharisees consist primarily of middle-class and lower-class Jews, including merchant, craftsmen, and
scholars. They were not part of the priestly class, which belong to the Sadducees, another Jewish sect during
that time. The Pharisees were mainly drawn from the common people and had a significant influence on
them.

Organization of the Pharisees

The Pharisees had a hierarchical organizational structure, with leaders known as “rabbis” or “teachers”
who were well-versed in Jewish law and traditions. These leaders were responsible for interpreting the
Torah and providing guidance to the people. The Pharisees aimed to bring about spiritual and moral renewal
among the Jewish people and emphasized the importance of personal piety and righteousness.
The Pharisees also had local Synagogues or study houses, were they would gather for worship, study, and
prayer. These Synagogues were not limited to specific locations, but were spread through out various towns
and cities. The Pharisees had a significant influence on Jewish society during the second temple period, and
their teachings and interpretations of the Torah played a crucial role in shaping Jewish religious life.
However, their strict adherence to the law and their perceived hypocrisy, by some led to conflict with other
sects and ultimately contributed to their downfall after the destruction of the second temple in 70 CE.
The Pharisees were a religious sects in ancient Israel. The Pharisees had a complex organizational
structure, with different level of authority. At the top was the “Sanhedrin”, a council of Pharisee leaders.
Below that were local councils of Pharisees, and below that were individual Pharisees now, it is important to
understand that the Pharisees were not a single, unified group. They had different “Schools of Thought”, and
often disagree with each other on how to interpret Jewish law. The most famous of these schools was the
“School of Hillel” which emphasized compassion and tolerance. The “School of Shammai”, on the other
hand, this school emphasized strict adherence to the letter of the law. The Pharisees were a diverse group
with different perspectives and ideas. However, it is important to understand that the Pharisees were not in a
single, homogenous group. They were actually made up of different sects, or subgroups, each with its own
interpretation of the law and religious practices. Within these sects, there were different ranks or levels of
authority. At the top were the “Teachers of the Law”, who were considered the most authoritative
interpreters of the law. Under the ‘Teachers of the Law’ were the elders who were respected of their age and
wisdom. Then were the scribes, who were experts in the law and often worked as officials in the local
government. At the bottom of the hierarch were the ordinary members of the Pharisees, who were
considered to be experts in the law; They still had an important role in the community, as they responsible
for spreading the teachings of the Pharisees and promoting their values.

BELIEVES AND TEACHINGS OF THE PHARISEES

Believes of the Pharisees

The Pharisees were a Jewish Sects during the time of Jesus, and they believed in strict adherence to the law
of Moses, the Oral law, the Afterlife, and Torah law.
1. THE ORAL LAW:
One of the key beliefs of the Pharisees is the Oral Law, a commentary from the Torah that explains to
followers how to carry out the commandments. It is also a set of teachings and interpretation of the Torah
that were passed down orally from generations to generations.
N/B: (i) The Pharisees believed that the Law that God gave to Moses was twofold, consisting of the
WRITTEN LAW OR TORAH ( The Teaching or Instruction of the prophets or the first five books of the
bible) and ORAL LAW ( The oral tradition of the Jewish people or the elders and the interpretation of the
Torah)
(ii) There were commandments in the Torah that are not specific, clear and quiet uncertain; Therefore, the
Oral Law fills in those blanks and allows followers to have more guidance and understanding.
(iii) The Pharisees believe that the Oral Law was just as important as the Written and the Oral Law, the
Torah ( i.e Written Law) would be taken too literally ( i.e too free/direct) which may cause confusion or
misinterpretation and also arouse different controversies. Hence, the Pharisees spent a lot of time studying
and debating it (Torah).
2.TORAH LAW( in Jewish tradition- Torah Sebbiktav): The Pharisees were strong believers in the TORAH
or the WRITTEN LAW, which is something also known as the Pentateuch ( i.e The First Five Books of
Moses). It is the fundamental basis of the Jewish Law. The Pharisees believed that to find God, you need to
follow the Written word and Oral word. The main purpose of the Torah Law to guide people on how to live
a moral and ethical life.
N/B: (i) The Pharisees believed in the ritual purity and keeping of the Torah Law. They emphasized the
importance of studying and interpreting the Torah and they believed that it should be applied to every aspect
of life. (ii) They believed that following the Torah was the key to a person’s relationship with God and they
were very concerned in keeping the law in both letter and spirit. (iii) They also believed that it was possible
to attain a level of personal holiness through strict observance of the Torah law. (iv) According to the
rabbinic tradition’s understanding, all the teachings found in the Torah (both written and oral) were given by
God through the Prophet Moses; some at Mount Sinai and others at the Tabernacle, and all the teachings
were written by Moses, which resulted in the Torah that exist today.

3. MOSES: The Pharisees believe that Moses received the Torah and the Oral law from God. They believed
in all of Moses teachings and laws. Moses helped the Jews rise from slavery and brought the commandments
from Mount Sinai. Moses helped prepare the Jews by teaching them God’s Laws (Matthew 23:2-4).
4. THE AFTERLIFE: The Pharisees believed in an afterlife. The Pharisees believed in the dead resurrecting,
the literal resurrection of one’s body and immortality of the soul. They believed that a person would be
brought back to life and also in the final reward of good works and that the soul of the wicked would be
detained forever under the earth.
5. They do not only believe that there are angels and spirits but also that there is a hierarchy of angels and
demons.
6. They looked eagerly for the coming of God’s kingdom and the eschatological (doctrinal or divinity)
expectations of a messiah who would restore fortune of Israel.
7. On free will and determinism, they avoided the extreme views of the Sadducees and essences. They held
that everything is brought about by fate but God has given human beings, the freedom of choice.
8. Unlike the aristocratic Sadducees, the Pharisees hated foreign rule but they were not militant nationalists;
They had a high regard for tolerance and a great love for peace. Hence, they believed that God would end
the foreign rule in this own time.

THE TEACHINGS OF THE PHARISEES

The teachings of the Pharisees are largely reflected below:
1.Oral Law, a body of Jewish legal interpretation, commentary and teachings that serve to expound upon
and clarify the laws and commandments found in the written Torah includes various components, such as:
(i) MISHNAH: The Mishnah is a compilation of Jewish legal teachings and discussions, organized into six
major sections known as “orders”. It was redacted by Rabbi Judah the Prince around the year 200 CE and
forms the core of the Oral Law. (ii)TALMUD: The Talmud is an extensive collection of commentaries,
discussions, and debates on the Mishnah, which consist of two main versions: The Babylonian Talmud (5 th
century CE) and the smaller Jerusalem Talmud (4th century CE). The Talmud offers in-depth discussions on
various legal, ethical, and theological topics. (iii) MIDRASH: This form of literature includes a collection of
homiletical and narrative interpretation of the biblical text. These teachings often provide insights into the
moral, ethical, and spiritual lessons derived from the biblical narratives. (iv) RESPONSA Literature:
RESPONSA Literature consists of written responses or legal rulings issued by Jewish scholars in response
to specific questions and legal matters that arise in Jewish communities over time. These response help to
provide guidance and address new situations in light of the principles and teachings of the Oral Law.
2. The Pharisees taught that the Torah is not just a set of rules to be followed, but a guide for how to live a
moral and ethical life.
3. They emphasized the importance of studying & interpreting the Torah, and they believed that it should be
applied to every aspect of life.
4. The Pharisees also taught that there is life after death, and they believed in the resurrection of the dead.
5.There are many other specific teachings of the Pharisees that are reflected in the Talmud: (i) “Mitzvot bein
adam I’chaveiro” which means “Commandment between man and his fellow man”. (ii) “Mitzvot bein adam
I’makom” which means “Commandments between man and God”. This two examples portray the
importance of prayer and religious observance.
6. They also taught about some key categories of laws reflected in the Torah such as; (i) Ritual Laws (These
laws pertain to religious rituals and practices, including rules for worship, sacrifices and observation of holy
days) Mark 7:2-4. (ii) Ethical Laws (these laws guide people in their moral and ethical conduct, such as
prohibition against stealing, lying, murder and adultery). (iii) Dietary Laws, which provides specific
guidelines regarding foods considered KOSHER (permissible) and which ones are not. These Laws include
rules about the type pf animals that can be eaten and how they should be prepared. (iv)Family Laws include
rules about marriage, divorce, inheritance, and the treatments of widows and orphans. (v) Social Justice
Laws which includes laws that promote fairness and equality, instructions to care for the poor, to treat
workers fairly, and to provide for the needs of vulnerable members of the society.
7. Another teaching of the Pharisees is the concept of “PIKUACH NEFESH” a Hebrew term that literally
means “Saving a Life”. It refers to the principle that the preservation of human life takes precedence over
almost all other religious obligations and prohibitions. This principle allows for the violation or suspension
of certain commandments if it is necessary to save a life or prevent serious harm. For example, the Pharisees
taught it is permissible to break the Sabbath(Jewish Sabbath) in order to save a life. As well as the story of
the Good Samaritan contradicts the teaching of “PIKUACH NEFESH”. However, it is important to note that
the story of the Good Samaritan is told by Jesus and not the Pharisees. The Pharisees were not depicted
favorably in Jesus ‘s parables, and it’s possible that the story of the Good Samaritan was meant to criticize
them for their lack of compassion ( Luke 10:25-27). N/B: A possible consideration of the story of the Good
Samaritan may have been a metaphor for the relationship between the Jews and the Gentiles, whereby the
Jews viewed the Gentiles as “outsiders”.