In the first century, Pharisees were a highly
respected and very powerful religious party. They controlled
the Jewish Sanhedrin (Judaism's "board of directors"),
influenced civil affairs, and had great influence with the
people. The fact that Jesus was in constant conflict with
them indicates their importance in first century religious
life. Considering the attitudes and behavior these religious
elitists displayed toward Jesus, will help us understand
modern legalism, and will help us understand why they are so
dangerous to true spirituality.
Origin of the Pharisees
Exactly when Phariseeism began is lost to antiquity.
Josephus says they existed as a formal sect in the years 167 - 139 B.C.
But Phariseeism is basically a matter of spiritual tendencies and heart
desires, so it is logically obvious that the tendencies and desires were
present, long before the official sect was formed. Most parties like
this develop slowly over a long period of time. This is what happened:
God commanded that Israel be a nation separated from
all surrounding nations. Many specific laws served solely to isolate
Israel's culture and religion from all others. After many years, the
influence of heathenism caused some Jews to compromise with paganism.
Eventually a "Hellenistic" party was formed for the purpose of
cooperating with, and seeking the favor of the surrounding Greek
culture.
Another group of Jews rebelled against this effort to
compromise with pagan culture. They called themselves "Pharisees," which
means "separatists." Their ambition was noble. God had commanded that
Israel be "separated from all strangers," (Neh. 9:2). Pharisees
were committed to protecting the purity of all things Jewish, from the
defilement of paganism. Hastings' Bible Dictionary says,
"They received the name 'Pharisee' or
'separated,' when they withdrew from the Sadducee court of the Maccabean
rulers under John Hyrcanus...Their aim was in daily life to be as
ceremonially pure as the priests were in the temple."
But it was not long before these "separatists" decided
that they needed to "separate" from even their fellow Jews, whom they
thought to be less devoted, less spiritual, less faithful, than
themselves. The haughty, self-righteousness so vividly displayed in
Jesus' day was at work long before. This is one of the chief
characteristics of legalism in any generation. Legalists believe they
are purer, holier, more righteous, more spiritual, more obedient, more
knowledgeable, than any of their contemporaries.
Beliefs of the Pharisees
They believed in God as the Creator and
Ruler of the universe.
They believed that God is provident to his creation, but they also
thought man was a "free moral agent," ultimately accountable to God.
They believed in angels, spirits and
bodily resurrection (cf. Acts 23:8).
They believed their OT Scripture was
inspired by God.
Virtually all Christians believe these
same doctrines. Pharisees were not theological heretics. They were very
much "sound in the faith." But believing all the right things is not a
guarantee of authentic spirituality, or of being in full harmony with
God's will.
Pharisees also believed strongly in oral
tradition. They believed that it was necessary that they teach the
"common Jew" the "real meaning" of God's word, And they felt obligated
to provide specific guidelines for "purity," which were not contained in
Scripture. Thus they devised a multitude of traditions, which ultimately
became religious law, and eventually took precedence over Divine law.
Jesus said they "made void the law of God for the sake of your
traditions," (cf. Mark 7:1-12).
Pharisaic traditions became so numerous
that ordinary persons could not possibly learn them all. This required
that the people be served by professional ministers, who could spend all
their time studying the mountain of traditions that generations of
legalists had heaped upon God's word, then tell the people how to act in
every conceivable circumstance. The people did not understand that they
could reject the officious pronouncements of these professional
religionists. They didn't know that they were being fed a constant diet
of human tradition, rather than God's true Word.
Pharisees also believed human works were
meritorious for salvation. They believed God was obligated to
save them because of their great knowledge of God, their faithful
practice of circumcision and offering sacrifices, and their diligent
performance of all sorts of religious purification rites, such as
washing hands many times a day, fastings, praying, etc. They loved all
things external, and neglected all things internal.
Pharisees were also "missionary minded."
They would "compass land and sea to make one proselyte..."(Matt.23:15).
However, their purpose was not to convert people to God, but to their
party. They cared nothing for converting pagans to Judaism. They wanted
only to convert fellow Jews to Phariseeism.
Legalists still labor to proselyte fellow Christians: getting them to
leave one church to join another. Most "conversions" today are not so
much to Christ, as to a denomination.
The church is in great danger from modern
Phariseeism. The problem with fighting it, is that it looks so
good. Like the original Pharisees, legalists in the modern church say
and do so many good things. It is hard to criticize them without being
accused of "un-Christ like behavior." But the "good" of
legalism/Phariseeism, is strictly superficial. It masks a deadly
commitment to human law-making and superficial religion that will
destroy many who fall into its clutches. Very few are able to escape
legalism.
The first step to escape is
understanding what it is.
That's why we write.