In contemporary sermons and casual Christian conversations, the term “Pharisee” has become shorthand for “hypocrite.” This reductionism, though rooted in Jesus’ strong rebukes of certain Pharisees, flattens a complex religious group into a one-dimensional caricature. But the reality is that the Pharisees were not cartoon villains. They were deeply religious, often well-intentioned, and many of them were sincerely seeking God. In fact, without understanding who the Pharisees were, we lose valuable insight into the teachings of Jesus and the context of Second Temple Judaism.
Who Were the Pharisees?
The Pharisees were a reform movement during the Second Temple period, emphasizing Torah obedience, oral tradition, and spiritual purity outside the Temple system. Unlike the Sadducees, who were aligned with the priestly aristocracy and often politically compromised, the Pharisees were closer to the common people. They sought to bring holiness into everyday life, not just the Temple. They believed in the resurrection of the dead, angels, and a future judgment, placing them doctrinally much closer to Jesus and the early Church than many realize (Acts 23:8).
Jesus’ Conflict Was Not Blanket Condemnation
Jesus did not rebuke all Pharisees. In fact, He dined with them (Luke 7:36), healed in their presence (Luke 14:1–6), and acknowledged the legitimacy of their teachings (Matthew 23:2–3). His strongest criticisms were directed at hypocrisy and performative religion, not the Pharisaic system as a whole. His famous “woes” in Matthew 23 are sharp, but even there, the issue is not their pursuit of righteousness. It is that some used their position to control others without living out what they taught.
To use these critiques as a basis for wholesale condemnation is akin to rejecting all pastors because of a few who abuse their roles. The Pharisees were a diverse group, and painting them all with the same brush is historically and theologically inaccurate.
Nicodemus, Gamaliel, and Paul
Several prominent Pharisees emerge in the New Testament in a positive light. Nicodemus seeks out Jesus at night (John 3:1–21) and later defends Him and assists in His burial. Gamaliel offers a wise defense of the apostles (Acts 5:34–39), urging caution and discernment. And of course, Paul himself was a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5) who never renounced that identity but saw his encounter with Christ as a fulfillment of the hope that faithful Pharisees had been waiting for.
These examples serve as a corrective to the blanket negativity often thrown at the Pharisees. The problem wasn’t the Pharisees as a group. It was self-righteousness, which can infect any religious movement, including the Church.
Lessons for Today: Avoiding the New Pharisaism
Ironically, in labeling others “Pharisees,” modern Christians often become guilty of the very attitude Jesus condemned. When we use the term to denounce other believers who we think are too legalistic or too focused on doctrine, we risk engaging in spiritual pride. Jesus opposed hypocrisy, not holiness. He condemned judgmentalism, not discernment. The danger is not in seeking righteousness, but in assuming we’ve attained it while others have not.
Rather than mocking the Pharisees, we might do better to ask ourselves, “Where might I be doing the same thing? Holding others to standards I don’t live up to? Projecting piety while hiding decay?”
Conclusion
The Pharisees were sincere seekers, not villains. While some fell into legalism and hypocrisy, others were faithful teachers, thinkers, and even early followers of Jesus. To reduce them to a stereotype undermines the depth of Jesus’ critique and blinds us to our own potential for spiritual arrogance. A more nuanced understanding invites us not to point fingers, but to reflect on our own hearts and to seek the very righteousness that the best of the Pharisees longed for, one rooted in justice, mercy, humility, and love.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think the Pharisees have become a common symbol for hypocrisy in modern Christian preaching?
- How does understanding the diversity among the Pharisees affect how we read Jesus’ critiques of them?
- In what ways can modern believers fall into the same errors Jesus warned the Pharisees about?
- What does Paul’s identity as a Pharisee suggest about the movement as a whole?
- How can we guard against misusing Scripture to justify our own spiritual superiority?
Want to Know More?
- Paul and Palestinian Judaism by E.P. Sanders
A groundbreaking scholarly work that redefines Paul’s relationship with Judaism, particularly the Pharisees, and challenges the traditional Christian view that Judaism was a religion of legalism and works-righteousness. - Jesus and the Victory of God by N.T. Wright
This second volume in Wright’s Christian Origins and the Question of God series explores Jesus’ mission within Second Temple Judaism and offers crucial insight into His complex relationship with the Pharisees. - The Pharisees edited by Joseph Sievers and Amy-Jill Levine
A recent and highly respected academic collection that brings together Jewish and Christian scholars to reassess Pharisaic history, theology, and their portrayal in the New Testament. - Four Portraits, One Jesus: A Survey of Jesus and the Gospels by Mark L. Strauss
An accessible textbook that explains the religious groups of Jesus’ time, including the Pharisees, within their historical and theological contexts. - Judaism: Practice and Belief 63 BCE–66 CE by E.P. Sanders
A comprehensive account of Jewish life and belief in the Second Temple period, providing helpful context for understanding Pharisaic practices and worldview.
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