Pharisees

The Pharisees were a sect among the Jews in the time of Christ. It was a group of people who held to very strict traditions and rules for living and for the interpretation of the Law of Moses, and which often found themselves opposing the Lord. Today, it is not uncommon to hear someone accused of being “Pharisaical” or of “Phariseeism.” Let us take a look at the Pharisees of Christ's time, and what traits they held that were condemned by Jesus.

Hypocrisy
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Luke 12:1

In this passage the Pharisees are accused, by Jesus, of being hypocritical. That is, they would say one thing, yet do another. Often, they would support a right action, yet for the wrong reasons or they themselves would neglect to act that way. Let us always strive to have our motives, our actions, and our words in accordance with each other and with Christ!


Binding Traditions
For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
Mark 7:8-9

We see here that the Pharisees were ignoring what the Lord had said, and instead were holding to the rules they had created. We see in other places that they held their own traditions to be of utmost importance, even above the Law. For this, they are condemned by the Lord. Let us always put what God says first! Having traditions is not wrong, but putting them equal to, or above, God's word is condemned!

To Impress Men
And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Matthew 6:5

We see here that the Pharisees, and those like them, were often focused more on the praise of men than on their service to the Lord. Let us always seek the approval of God more than we seek the approval of men! As Paul later writes, we must please the Lord (Gal. 1:10)

Teaching the Law
All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
Matthew 23:3

At no time are the Pharisees condemned for teaching and holding to the Law that had been given. Instead, they are condemned for twisting it, for modifying it, and for adding to it. We must not misunderstand the Pharisees to mean that holding the word of God is not important. Rather, we should see in the Pharisees an example of what not to do with it. We must remain true to what the Lord has said, and we must follow it without hypocrisy, without adding our own traditions and laws, and without using it to earn praise for ourselves!