New Testament Backgrounds - Part 3

A group mentioned often in the New testament are the Pharisees, or separated ones. Their exact origin is unknown, but seem to come out of the Hasidim movement of the inter-testamental period.  The Hasidim, or pious ones, were those who opposed the Hellenization of the Jews in Palestine.  Hellenism, or Greek culture and thought, were embraced by some of the Jewish leaders during the time between the Old and New Testament periods.  This change in culture was viewed as a serious problem for the nation, one which would bring the wrath of God upon them.  From this group the seeds for the development of the Pharisees were sown.

The earliest reference to the Pharisees is recorded by Josephus.  They were a well known and influential group by the time John Hyrcanus was high priest and civil ruler in Jerusalem.  They are well known for their interpretation of the Mosaic law and the “traditions of the fathers,” a code of laws not recorded but orally handed down generation to generation.  Josephus wrote, “the Pharisees had passed on to the people certain regulations handed down by former generations and not recorded in the law of Moses” (quoted in An Introduction to Early Judaism, James C. VanderKam, page 187). This code was the source of many confrontations between them and Jesus.

One example is found in Matthew 15.  The chapter opens with the scribes and Pharisees coming to Jesus with the question, “why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders?  For they
wash not their hands when they eat bread” (Matthew 15:2 NKJV).  Jesus' response indicates one problem with their traditions: “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?” (Verse 3).  Jesus illustrated His charge against them with the following words; “For God commanded, saying, honor thy father and mother . . . but ye say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me has been dedicated to the temple – is released from honoring his father or mother. Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition” (verse 5-7).

Doctrinally, the Pharisees believed in the resurrection, after life, spirits, and angels (see Acts 23:6-8).  These beliefs made the acceptance of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead easier for some of them than it was for the Sadducees so we find Pharisees obeying the gospel in the book of Acts.  This led to new problems for the church however, as some of them at least sought to bind circumcision as necessary for salvation (see Acts 15:1-5).

—Denny