Pharisees

The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish religious sect and influential group in Judaism during the time of Jesus and the early church, emerging around the 2nd century BC. The name "Pharisee" derives from a Hebrew word meaning "separated ones," reflecting their commitment to separating themselves from ritual impurity and worldly influences to strictly observe God's law. They emphasized both the written Torah and the oral traditions (interpretations and applications of the Law), believing that all Jews should follow the full 600+ commandments, including rules for Sabbath observance, tithing, and ceremonial purity. Unlike the priestly Sadducees, who rejected oral tradition and beliefs like the resurrection of the dead, the Pharisees accepted these doctrines and held significant popular support among the people, often serving as synagogue leaders and teachers. In the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels, they are frequently portrayed in conflict with Jesus, who criticized them for hypocrisy, legalism, burdening people with extra rules, and prioritizing external rituals over inner righteousness (e.g., Matthew 23's "woes"). Notable Pharisees include Nicodemus, who sought Jesus secretly and later helped bury Him, Gamaliel the wise teacher who advised caution toward early Christians (Acts 5), and the apostle Paul, who was trained as a Pharisee before his conversion. Their teachings and emphasis on oral law laid the foundation for Rabbinic Judaism after the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.