blog#14, Jesus...scribes and Pharisees

blog#14, Jesus...scribes and Pharisees

In Matthew chapter twenty three, Jesus said: “woe unto you...Pharisees.” In seven different verses of that chapter, Jesus called those particular Pharisees present, hypocrites. Notice Matthew 23:13, 23:14, 23:15, 23:23, 23:25, 23:27, and Matthew 23:29. Wowee! Seven woes spoken against 2 groups present at the meeting that day (scribes and Pharisees).

What is a Pharisee? The Hebrew root term is parash (Strong’s Concordance #6567), and means to separate, (disperse). The plural form is p’rushim, and arrives in English as Pharisees. This Jewish group of separatists, who practiced ritual purity and freedom from defilement, are mentioned in the Talmud.

But the Talmudic report is not completely good about all of them. It divides Pharisees into 7 classes, and satirizes 5 of the 7 classes of Pharisees as hypocrites. Two groups are without criticism. 1. The Pharisee who loves God. 2. The Pharisee who fears God.

In the Gospels, certain Pharisees are constantly in conflict with Jesus. Considering the Talmud’s comments, and what the Christian Bible relates in dialogue between Jesus and certain Pharisees, we are able to have a better picture of what was happening.

We can all understand the friction about differing religious interpretations, but when hypocrisy is involved, friction turns into force of a relentless sort. Especially, when one teacher starts blasting the others with scalding words like “hypocrite.” The gentle Jesus that Christians envision, was outspoken and very critical of hypocrites and pretenders.

Were all Pharisees hypocrites? No, of course not. We cannot rightly condemn every Pharisee because a vocal group gets all the attention, by regularly tangling with an itinerant rabbi. Matter of fact, to condemn good people, is like painting with a broad brush, while trying to do detailed work. Suffice it to say, that the “in house” observation by Talmudic sages, and the words of Jesus, combine to give us more insight than previously.

That segment of Pharisees who constantly antagonized Jesus in the Gospel narratives, is not truly a matter of anti Shemetism, showing in a literary device, rather its an observation about hypocritical “in house” behavior. It would be different if Jesus’ detractors were not Jews, but they were.

So, we who are outside the pale of Judaism must recognize that the arguments, made by Jesus were a polemic against some Jewish hypocrisy, and not against all Pharisees.

Josephus, also sheds insight on the Pharisees in Antiq. XIII. X. 6, saying; The Pharisees have delivered to the people a great many observances by succession from their fathers which are not written in the law of Moses; and for that reason it is said that the Sadducees reject them, and say that we are to esteem those observances to be obligatory which are in the written word, but are not to observe what are derived from the tradition of our forefathers; and concerning those things it is that great disputes have arisen among them.

In defense of the good Pharisee, one scholar wrote: “that of all that is said against rabbinic Judaism in the writings of the Church Fathers, there is not a single accusation of hypocrisy levelled against the sages.” Jesus also spoke on behalf of the observant Pharisee, saying; the scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses seat: all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do;”

The distinction is clear enough; Jesus was referring to negative Pharisees, rather than the rest of the Pharisees, when he blurted out; “ but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men (Matthew 23:2-5).

He truly resented those who taught and interpreted Torah, but themselves didn’t practice all the addendums they promoted. It’s like an old English adage; don’t do as I do: do as I say. Leaders should set examples for followers, and not just “lord” it over them.

Jesus also denounced “scribes” who aligned themselves with a hypocritical type Pharisee, and also pronounced “woe” 7 times against them. I found the term “scribes” about 55 times (plural), in the four Gospels, and in many cases it was mentioned with the word Pharisees alongside.

The word for “scribes,” found in the Greek manuscript copies is gram-mat-yooce (Strong’s #1122). It means a writer, or secretary and relates to one well versed in the law, or holy scriptures. Authority seems to have been granted them in a general way by virtue of their occupation, but did not include decisive power. Some leaders allied themselves with scribes because of the respect attached to them by the Jewish people due to their knowledge of the law.

Thank God for all the sages who lived for God, and practiced what they preached. Thank God for every scribe which was instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven.