Definition and Characteristics of a Pharisee in Scripture
The Pharisees were a prominent religious and political party among the Jews during the time of Jesus, frequently mentioned in the New Testament [1, 2]. Their name, derived from the Aramaic perishin or Hebrew perushim, means "separated" or "separatists" [2, 3, 4]. They are often described as the successors of the Assideans, a pious group that emerged during the reign of Antiochus Epiphanes in opposition to his Hellenizing policies [3].
Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, describes the Pharisees as one of the three main Jewish sects, alongside the Sadducees and Essenes, noting their skill in interpreting the laws [3, 6]. They were considered the popular party among the Jewish people [3, 8]. The Pharisees were characterized by their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and their zealous observance of oral traditions, which they believed were also from Moses [5, 12].
Key characteristics and practices attributed to the Pharisees include:
- Zeal for the Law and Tradition They were meticulous in matters pertaining to the law and tradition [3, 5].
- Outward Morality They often presented an outwardly moral appearance [5].
- Fasting They were rigid in their practice of fasting [5].
- Proselytizing They were active in seeking converts [5, 7].
- Self-Righteousness Jesus often critiqued their self-righteousness, as seen in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector [5, 11, 13].
- Hypocrisy Jesus frequently condemned them as hypocrites, particularly for their focus on external purity while neglecting internal righteousness, and for their avarice [7, 9, 15].
- Desire for Recognition They were known for their ambition for precedence, public salutations, and distinguished titles [5].
The Apostle Paul, before his conversion, identified himself as a Pharisee, highlighting his strict adherence to the law and his zeal [5, 10, 14]. The Pharisees' emphasis on tradition and their interpretation of the law often brought them into conflict with Jesus, who challenged their legalistic approach and hypocrisy [12, 16]. For instance, Jesus criticized them for devouring widows' houses under the pretense of long prayers [9]. Their interactions with Jesus formed a significant part of his public ministry [16].
Sources
- STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=G5330 — Religious group in the New Testament”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Pharisees — a religious party or school among the Jews at the time of Christ, so called from perishin, the Aramaic form of the Hebrew word perushim, "separated." The chief sects among the Jews were the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes, who may be described respectively as the Formalists, the Freethinkers and the Puritans. A knowledge of the opinions and practices of the Pharisees at the time of Christ is of great importance for entering deeply into the genius of the Christian religion. A cursory perusal of the Gospels is sufficient to show that Christ's teachi”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Pharisees — Separatists (Heb. persahin, from parash, "to separate"). They were probably the successors of the Assideans (i.e., the "pious"), a party that originated in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes in revolt against his heathenizing policy. The first mention of them is in a description by Josephus of the three sects or schools into which the Jews were divided (B.C. 145). The other two sects were the Essenes and the Sadducees. In the time of our Lord they were the popular party (John 7:48). They were extremely accurate and minute in all matters appertaining to the l”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Pharisees — set apart”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pharisees, The — A sect of the Jews -- Ac 15:5. The strictest observers of the Mosaic ritual -- Ac 26:5. By descent, especially esteemed -- Ac 23:6. Character of Zealous of the law. -- Ac 15:5; Php 3:5. Zealous of tradition. -- Mr 7:3,5-8; Ga 1:14. Outwardly moral. -- Lu 18:11; Php 3:5,6. Rigid in fasting. -- Lu 5:33; 18:12. Active in proselytising. -- Mt 23:15. Self-righteous. -- Lu 16:15; 18:9. Avaricious. -- Mt 23:14; Lu 16:14. Ambitious of precedence. -- Mt 23:6. Fond of public salutations. -- Mt 23:7. Fond of distinguished titles. -- Mt 23:7-10. Particular in pa”
- Project Gutenberg “Flavius Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, CHAPTER 8, section 8: first mentioned, the Pharisees are those who are esteemed most skillful in the exact explication of their laws, and introduce the first sect. These ascribe all to fate [or providence], and to God, and yet allow, that to act what is right, or the contrary, is principally in the power of men, although fate does co-operate in every action. They say that all souls are incorruptible, but that the souls of good men only are removed into other bodies,--but that the souls of bad men are subject to eternal punishment. But the Sadducees are t”
- Matthew “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much of a son of Gehennaas yourselves. -- Matthew 23:15”
- John “John 7:48 (ASV) — Hath any of the rulers believed on him, or of the Pharisees?”
- Matthew ““Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows’ houses, and as a pretense you make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation. -- Matthew 23:13”
- Philippians “Philippians 3:5 (DRC) — Being circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews. According to the law, a Pharisee:”
- Luke (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Luke 18:11: PARABLE OF THE PHARISEE AND THE PUBLICAN. (Luk 18:9-14) stood--as the Jews in prayer (Mar 11:25). God, &c.--To have been kept from gross iniquities was undoubtedly a just cause of thankfulness to God; but instead of the devoutly humble, admiring frame which this should inspire, the Pharisee arrogantly severs himself from the rest of mankind, as quite above them, and, with a contemptuous look at the poor publican, thanks God that he has not to stand afar off like him, to hang down his head like a bulrush and beat his breast like him. But these are onl”
- Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 23:2: 23:2 the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses: They transmitted the oral traditions that were associated with the law and thought to be from Moses, and they judged religious and social matters on the basis of these traditions (see 15:2).”
- Luke (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Luke 18:11: Stood and prayed thus with himself - Or, stood by himself and prayed, as some would translate the words. He probably supposed it disgraceful to appear to have any connection with this penitent publican: therefore his conduct seemed to say, "Stand by thyself; I am more holy than thou." He seems not only to have stood by himself, but also to have prayed by himself; neither associating in person nor in petitions with his poor guilty neighbor. God, I thank thee, etc. - In Mat 5:20, our Lord says, Unless your righteousness abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisee”
- Philippians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Philippians 3:4: The apostle here proposes himself for an example of trusting in Christ only, and not in his privileges as an Israelite. I. He shows what he had to boast of as a Jew and a Pharisee. Let none think that the apostle despised these things (as men commonly do) because he had them not himself to glory in. No, if he would have gloried and trusted in the flesh, he had as much cause to do so as any man: If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof to trust in the flesh, I more, Phi 3:4. He had as much to boast of as any Jew of them all. 1. His birth-right privileges.”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 23:25: Thou blind Pharisee,.... Well might Christ call such an one a blind Pharisee, who was so scrupulously careful to cleanse his cup and platter; and yet made no conscience of filling them with what was gotten in an unjust way, and so defiled himself and them: cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also: get food and drink in an honest way, remove all extortion and oppression out of thine hands, and luxury and intemperance from thy table; and so shall the outward cleanness of thy cup and dish, be no reproach unto ”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 5:17: 5:17-26 The healing of the paralyzed man initiated the conflicts Jesus had with religious leaders throughout his public ministry until he was crucified in Jerusalem. 5:17 Pharisees: See “The Pharisees” Profile. • Teachers of religious law, also called “scribes” and “lawyers,” were experts in interpreting the law of Moses. Most of the scribes were Pharisees, though some were Sadducees.”