Posted by Chester Morton / Wednesday 22 March 2017 / No comments
The party of the Pharisees
Introduction
The Pharisees are believed to be people who have separated themselves
from national affairs and every form of ceremonial uncleanliness, hence their
name “The separated ones” coming from the Hebrew word ‘Parash”. Their reason
for separating themselves from people is that they considered others as unclean
and therefore, mingling with them would cause them to become unclean too. Their
main aim is the purification of the Jewish religion.
The Pharisees are believed to have emerged during the time of
the attempt by Antiochus Epiphanes to Hellenize the Jewish religion in Judea.
This was around the time the Jews had formed a party to opposed Epiphanes. It
is also linked to the time of the Maccabees revolt.
The great historian, Josephus, recorded that around the time
of Jesus, the Pharisees were made up of about six thousand people.
BELIEFS AND DOCTRINES
Hatred of foreign rule
The Pharisees were a group of people who were opposed to
every form of foreign rule. They therefore hated the Romans’ domination of
their political lives.
Belief in the Messianic promise
The Pharisees also believe that there is a Messiah who would
come one day to deliver them from the hands of the Romans, drive the Romans
away and establish an earthly kingdom of the Jews.
Opposed to violence
The Pharisees did not, however, believe in personally fighting
the Romans and driving them away for that Messianic kingdom to come. That one,
they left to God to accomplish. They believe that once they kept the law
faithfully, God would drive the Romans away eventually.
Immortality of the soul and transmigration of souls
The Pharisees believe that after the death of a good person,
his or her soul passes into another person’s body. On the other hand, when a
bad person dies, his or her soul goes into eternal punishment.
Other religious beliefs
The Pharisees believe in the law and the Prophets. They also
believe in the elaborate interpretations that were added to the written law.
Attributes things to God
They believe that everything that happens to man is
attributable to fate and to God. They also believe that everything is predestined
to happen at one point in one’s life. They believe that there is resurrection
of the body and that angels exist.
Other practices
The Pharisees consider the law to be very important so they
were legalistic in their approach to issues. They believe they were very
righteous people, more righteous than sinners, the poor, the prostitutes and tax-collectors.
They think these groups of people do not come anywhere near them in purity. They
fasted twice every week, that is, on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Tithes and others
They believe in the principle of tithing so they gave tithe
on everything they earned. They gave alms but they were ostentatious about it.
They did it with pomp and pageantry. They prefer to pray in public to be seen
by others and to display their purity. They also love to sit at the places of
honour at public functions.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. a. Trace the origin of the party of the Pharisees.
b. Highlight any
six of their beliefs.
