The Pharisees are a political-religious group, made up of the Jewish community, which emerged as a class during the third century BC. After the exile, the government monarchy of the Israelites remained in the past; and in its place the Jews founded a community half state, half church. Unlike the Sadducees (descendants of the High Priest), the Pharisees got their interpretations accepted by the majority of the Jews, so once the temple falls, they officially take control of Judaism and transform the cult, transferring it to the synagogue (meeting house).
What is Pharisees
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It was an influential religious and political group that had the greatest influence on the Jewish people. They opposed the teachings of Jesus, since it promoted ideas and teachings that broke the paradigms established by the ancient Law of Moses and this group was jealous of their doctrines.
These people, according to Jesus, were those who said and did not do, who put heavy works and impossible to carry on the shoulders of men, but who did not use a finger to help them, that is why he called them hypocrites and from there his bad began. fame.
The scribes and Pharisees are usually mentioned together since the former belonged to this group, but they were different in their beliefs and practices.
The term "Pharisees" comes from the Hebrew perushim, which means "separate" or "separatist."
History of the Pharisees
It had its beginnings during the Babylonian captivity (587-536 BC), although there are those who claim that it was during the Persian domination. They defined themselves as a political group between 167-165 BC in the revolution of the Maccabees. Their beliefs were accepted by the Jewish people, so when the Temple falls in 70 AD, they take control of Judaism, transforming it.
They rose up against John Hyrcanus (134-104 BC), high priest supported by the Sadducees, who exercised more the role of pagan king, so the Pharisees demanded that his priestly work be separated from the royal one. This led to clashes between Pharisees and Sadducees during the reigns of the sons and grandsons of this king, one of whom sought support in Rome, associating with Julius Caesar and whoever became the military ruler of Galilee, Herod.
Herod took the daughter of Hyrcanus II (103-30 AD), grandson of John Hyrcanus, as his wife, but then the military ruler would execute them, so the relations between these hypocrites and the Herodians were broken. Later around 4 BC, the Pharisees Judas the Galileo and Saddoq, made calls not to pay taxes to Rome, so there was a rebellion that ended with the mass suicide at the Masada in 73 AD.
Characteristics of the Pharisees
- Sense of superiority over pagan and idolatrous nations.
- His arrogant and proud precepts developed an exaggerated formalism.
- Marriage with pagans was prohibited, even many of the previously contracted marriages were dissolved by its legislation.
- Their beliefs were based on the law of Moses, they did not accept or believe the teachings of Jesus, so they sought to accuse him.
- They introduced the belief in the resurrection and future rewards, helping the insertion of Christianity.
- They were cultured men who knew about the law and the prophets.
- They did “all their works to be seen by men” (they took care of appearances), as reflected in Matthew 23: 5, which is why Jesus gave them the label of hypocritical Pharisees in Matthew 23:13.
Pharisees' beliefs
His doctrine is based on the belief in the immortality of the soul. For them, not everything ended with death; on the contrary, the souls continued to live. The belief in human freedom, accepting that destiny had an influence on men.
They believed in reward and eternal punishment, the souls of the good were rewarded, while those of the bad were sent to hell to receive their punishment. Obedience to their interpretive tradition, referring to religious obligations (prayers, rituals of worship) was above the teachings of the new covenant. They believed in the resurrection, the souls of good beings would receive a new body, but not an earthly body, but one that will last in eternity.
