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The Pharisees Jesus’ attitude—Matt. 23

Vipers, serpents 33 Sons of hell 15 Hypocrites 13, 15, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29 Blind guides 16, 19, 24, 26 Fools 17 Full of iniquity 28

The Pharisees Their origin

Hellenizers In sympathy with Grecian ways. Led to formation of Sadducees Hasidaeans Opposed the Hellenizers Led to formation of Pharisees The Pharisees and Sadducees appear as distinct parties in the latter half of the 2nd cent. B.C., though they represent tendencies traceable much earlier in Jewish history, tendencies which became pronounced after the return from Babylon (537 B.C.). Vine’s Dictionary

The Pharisees Their characteristics

Extremists Extremes beget extremes:  Ultra liberal to ultra conservative  Ultra conservative to ultra liberal

Traditionalists the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they carefully wash their hands, thus observing the traditions of the elders;…And the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him, Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders…

Traditionalists Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men…You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition…invalidating the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down. Mark 7:1-13 (Matt. 15:3,6, 8-9)

Separatists Name “Pharisee” from an Aramaic word peras (found in Dan 5:28) signifying to separate, owing to a different manner of life from that of the general public. Dan 5:28) signifying to separate, owing to a different manner of life from that of the general public. Vine They were “too good” to associate with certain they deemed to be inferior to themselves, Matt. 9:11; Mk. 2:16; Lk. 5:30; 7:36, 39; 15:2; 18:9

Separatists I lived as a Pharisee according to the strictest sect of our religion. Paul, Acts 26:5 Sect: a body of men separating themselves from others and following their own tenets (a sect or party)…dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims: Thayer

Proselyted Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because you travel about on sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves. Matthew 23:15

Unequal emphasis 23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! Matt. 23:23-24

Concerned with externals 25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. Matt. 23:25-26

Walter Mitty syndrome 29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, “If we had been living in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.” 31 So you testify against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Matt. 23:29-31

YouMightBeAPhariseeIf… You are an extremist You are a traditionalist You are a separatist You proselyte You give unequal emphasis You are concerned with externals You live in a fantasy world

To the Pharisees Prevented conversion Preyed on vulnerable Party zeal Distinctions but no difference Unequal emphasis Concern with externals Hypocrisy Walter Middy syndrome