The theology of Jesus is Jewish and is built firmly upon the foundations of Pharisaic thought: Opening one’s eyes to see the Light

The theology of Jesus is Jewish and is built firmly upon the foundations of Pharisaic thought:

While Jesus disdained the hypocrisy of some Pharisees, he never attacked the religious and spiritual teachings of Pharisaism. In fact, the sharpest criticisms of the Pharisees in Matthew are introduced by an unmistakable affirmation, "The scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses' seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice" (Matt. 23:2-3 RSV). The issue is practice because the content of the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees was not a problem

Unfortunately, the image of the Pharisee in modern usage is seldom—if ever—positive. The very name Pharisee has become synonymous with hypocrisy and self-righteousness. Such a negative characterization of Pharisaism distorts our view of Judaism and the beginnings of Christianity because the theology of Jesus is Jewish and is built firmly upon the foundations of Pharisaic thought.

As an example, consider Paul, who was a Pharisee. When he was converted on the road to Damascus, Paul came to realize that Christianity was not a threat to the Jews, but rather the fulfillment of all that they hold true. Consider that Paul wrote a significant number of New Testament Epistles; he wrote more books and pages of the New Testament than anyone else. This means that many basic tenets of Christian practice were named and described by a Pharisee.

The name Pharisee in Hebrew form means separatists or the separated ones. They were also known as Chasidim, meaning loyal to God or loved of God. This becomes most ironic when one considers they made themselves the most bitter opponents of Jesus Christ and His message.

The Pharisees perhaps meant to obey God, but eventually they became so devoted and extreme in very limited parts of the Law that they became blind to the Messiah when He was in their very midst. They saw His miracles and they heard His Words, but instead of receiving it with joy, they did all that they could to stop Him—eventually to the point of having Him tormented, whipped, and crucified because He truthfully claimed to be the Son of God.

The Pharisees were in charge of the Temple, sacrifices, and rituals during the time of Christ. The multitudes of the Jews followed the teaching and practices of the Pharisees, and it was they who controlled the worship services and functions of the priesthood and the Temple. The Pharisees were in power and controlled the religious life of the people of Judea, who followed them. The Pharisees did not allow any tampering with the regulations and laws concerning public worship, prayer, and sacrifices.

Although they were not the political rulers—Herod was the king and Pilate was the governor during the time of Christ—the Pharisees exercised religious rule over the Jews. They were considered the most accurate interpreters of the laws and the most precise exponents of the laws. Their place as the leading legal scholars of the written and unwritten Mosaic laws was undenied and undoubted. The Pharisees determined when the festivals and the holy days were to be celebrated.

Matthew 23 records Jesus chastising the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, wickedness, and sins. This indictment is all the more severe because Jesus included in his opinion of the Pharisees the statement that they sat in Moses' seat and exercised authority from God. So, Jesus Himself told His followers that in spite of the heinous sins of the Pharisees, their religious office and authority concerning the laws of God still were to be respected and obeyed. In saying this, it is clear that Jesus highly respected the God-given authority of the Pharisees as the custodians of the laws of God, the Torah, and its interpretation. This makes sense given the fact that Jesus was born a Jew and was raised according to Jewish traditions and Mosaic law.

The debt that true Christianity owes to the Pharisees is substantial. Even though many of them became—as Jesus said—hypocrites, and fools, and blind guides, nevertheless they and they alone preserved the laws of God, the Torah, and the unwritten laws governing the calendar, the Temple, rituals, sacrifices, and so forth. They alone preserved the knowledge of the exact holy days of God, the annual festivals, and the methodology for computing the calendar new moons, months, and leap years.

Jesus acknowledged their God-given authority when He stated without equivocation that they sat on Moses' seat—Moses the giver of the Law, the one to whom God Himself gave the Ten Commandments. This description was no small praise. It was given with the highest of respect, since Jesus also told His disciples, "Obey them and do everything they tell you."

The presentation of the Pharisees in the Gospels is generally negative. Jesus is seen to be disputing with them continually, which suggests that his teaching was the antithesis of Pharisaism. Closer investigation does not support this because the writings of the New Testament show Jesus in agreement with the vitally important beliefs and practices adhered to by the Pharisees.

Jesus Christ strongly and frequently condemned the Pharisees for being self-righteous and hypocritical. Does this mean that all Pharisees at the time of Christ were self-righteous hypocrites? A Pharisee in the mind of the people of the period was far different from modern popular conceptions of a Pharisee. The image of the Pharisee in the Jewish thought of Christ’s era was not primarily one of self-righteous hypocrisy, but instead the Pharisee represents piety and holiness. The very mention of a Pharisee evoked an image of righteousness.

The Pharisaic religion was divided into two separate schools—the School of Shammai and the School of Hillel The group that Christ continually took to task was the School of Shammai—a faction that was very rigid and unforgiving in the application of the Law.

Although Pharisees were frequently adversaries of Christ, not all their interactions were hostile. They asked Him to dine with them on occasion. See Luke 7:36; 11:37; 14:1. Christ was warned of danger by some Pharisees. See Luke 13:31. And some Pharisees, including Nicodemus, believed in Him, although they did so secretly because of the animosity of their leaders toward Christ.

Below are two passages, one from Matthew and the other from John. When read together, they stress the importance of having eyes read to see and to accept the power and the glory of God. Also, the passages point out how sometimes we are so focused on purity of faith that we miss an authentic opportunity to see Faith revealed. It is important to remember that maintaining a strong and close adherence to faith is paramount, but it should not become a rigidity blinding us to when God reveals Himself to us.

2 "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures.

3 So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach.

4 They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden.

5 "Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes.

6 And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue!

7 They enjoy the attention they get on the streets, and they enjoy being called Rabbi, which means Master or Teacher.

8 Don't ever let anyone call you Rabbi, for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters.

9 And don't address anyone here on earth as Father, for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.

10 And don't let anyone call you Master, for there is only one master, the Messiah.

12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

13 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you won't let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won't go in yourselves.

15 Yes, how terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. For you cross land and sea to make one convert, and then you turn him into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are.

16 "Blind guides! How terrible it will be for you! For you say that it means nothing to swear `by God's Temple'--you can break that oath. But then you say that it is binding to swear `by the gold in the Temple.'

17 Blind fools! Which is greater, the gold, or the Temple that makes the gold sacred?

18 And you say that to take an oath `by the altar' can be broken, but to swear `by the gifts on the altar' is binding!

19 How blind! For which is greater, the gift on the altar, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?

20 When you swear `by the altar,' you are swearing by it and by everything on it.

21 And when you swear `by the Temple,' you are swearing by it and by God, who lives in it.

22 And when you swear `by heaven,' you are swearing by the throne of God and by God, who sits on the throne.

23 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income, but you ignore the important things of the law--justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes, but you should not leave undone the more important things.

24 Blind guides! You strain your water so you won't accidentally swallow a gnat; then you swallow a camel!

25 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy--full of greed and self-indulgence!

26 Blind Pharisees! First wash the inside of the cup, and then the outside will become clean, too.

27 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs--beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people's bones and all sorts of impurity.

28 You try to look like upright people outwardly, but inside your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 "How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you build tombs for the prophets your ancestors killed and decorate the graves of the godly people your ancestors destroyed.

31 "In saying that, you are accusing yourselves of being the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.

34 I will send you prophets and wise men and teachers of religious law. You will kill some by crucifixion and whip others in your synagogues, chasing them from city to city.

35 As a result, you will become guilty of murdering all the godly people from righteous Abel to Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered in the Temple between the altar and the sanctuary.

36 I assure you, all the accumulated judgment of the centuries will break upon the heads of this very generation.

2 "Teacher," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it a result of his own sins or those of his parents?"

3 "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "He was born blind so the power of God could be seen in him.

4 All of us must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent me, because there is little time left before the night falls and all work comes to an end.

6 Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and smoothed the mud over the blind man's eyes.

7 He told him, "Go and wash in the pool of Siloam" (Siloam means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing!

8 His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, "Is this the same man--that beggar?"

9 Some said he was, and others said, "No, but he surely looks like him!" And the beggar kept saying, "I am the same man!"

11 He told them, "The man they call Jesus made mud and smoothed it over my eyes and told me, `Go to the pool of Siloam and wash off the mud.' I went and washed, and now I can see!"

15 The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, "He smoothed the mud over my eyes, and when it was washed away, I could see!"

16 Some of the Pharisees said, "This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath." Others said, "But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?" So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

17 Then the Pharisees once again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, "This man who opened your eyes--who do you say he is?" The man replied, "I think he must be a prophet."

18 The Jewish leaders wouldn't believe he had been blind, so they called in his parents.

19 They asked them, "Is this your son? Was he born blind? If so, how can he see?"

21 but we don't know how he can see or who healed him. He is old enough to speak for himself. Ask him."

22 They said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who had announced that anyone saying Jesus was the Messiah would be expelled from the synagogue.

24 So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, "Give glory to God by telling the truth, because we know Jesus is a sinner."

25 "I don't know whether he is a sinner," the man replied. "But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!"

27 "Look!" the man exclaimed. "I told you once. Didn't you listen? Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples, too?"

28 Then they cursed him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.

29 We know God spoke to Moses, but as for this man, we don't know anything about him."

30 "Why, that's very strange!" the man replied. "He healed my eyes, and yet you don't know anything about him!

31 Well, God doesn't listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.

32 Never since the world began has anyone been able to open the eyes of someone born blind.

34 "You were born in sin!" they answered. "Are you trying to teach us?" And they threw him out of the synagogue.

35 When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

39 Then Jesus told him, "I have come to judge the world. I have come to give sight to the blind and to show those who think they see that they are blind."

40 The Pharisees who were standing there heard him and asked, "Are you saying we are blind?"

41 "If you were blind, you wouldn't be guilty," Jesus replied. "But you remain guilty because you claim you can see.

19 And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"

20 When the men had come to Him, they said, "John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, "Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?"'

21 And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.

22 Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

24 When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25 But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings' courts.

26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."

29 And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the will of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.

31 And the Lord said, "To what then shall I liken the men of this generation, and what are they like?

32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, saying:

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, "He has a demon.'

34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, "Look, a glutton and a person given to indulging excessively in wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'

36 Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee's house, and sat down to eat.

37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,

38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, "This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner."

41 "There was a certain creditor who had two debtors. One owed 500 denarii, and the other 50.

42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"

44 Then He turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.

45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.

46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.

47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little."

49 And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this who even forgives sins?"

Luke 11:37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat.

29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, "This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet.

30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

31 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

32 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Of note: The Pharisees and others repeatedly asked Jesus Christ to give them a sign that He was the Messiah sent from heaven.

See Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:1; Mark 8:11-12; Luke 11:16; John 2:18; John 6:30; and 1 Corinthians 22.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from You."

The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and testing Jesus, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven.

11 The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him.

12 Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation."

The Jews then said to Him, "What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?"

So the crowd said to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform?

This is interesting when you consider the Apostle & Disciple Thomas needed to see the nail marks in Jesus Christ’s hands to believe that it was He; and Saul (Paul) was converted on the road to Damascus when Jesus Christ appeared before him questioning why he persecuted His followers.

33 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, puts it in a secret place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, that those who come in may see the light.

34 The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light. But when your eye is bad, your body also is full of darkness.

36 If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, the whole body will be full of light, as when the bright shining of a lamp gives you light."

37 And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat.

38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

39 Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.

41 But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

42 "But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces.

44 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them."

45 Then one of the lawyers answered and said to Him, "Teacher, by saying these things You reproach us also."

46 And He said, "Woe to you also, lawyers! For you load men with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.

47 Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

48 In fact, you bear witness that you approve the deeds of your fathers; for they indeed killed them, and you build their tombs.

49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, "I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute,'

50 that the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation,

51 from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah who perished between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, it shall be required of this generation.

52 "Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves, and those who were entering in you hindered."

53 And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things,

54 lying in wait for Him, and seeking to catch Him in something He might say, that they might accuse Him.

Luke 14:1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

1 One Sabbath, when Jesus went to eat in the house of a prominent Pharisee, he was being carefully watched.

3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?"

4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away.

5 Then he asked them, "If one of you has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull him out?"

7 When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable:

8 "When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited.

9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place.

10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests.

11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

12 Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid.

13 But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,

14 and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

Luke 13:31 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You."

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, "Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, "I do not know you, where you are from,'

26 then you will begin to say, "We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'

27 But He will say, "I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of gross immorality, injustice, and wickedness.'

28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.

29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.

30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."

31 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You."

32 And He said to them, "Go, tell that fox, "Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.'

33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.

3 Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very important city—a visit required three days.

4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned."

5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.

Do not let any man or beast, herd or flock, taste anything; do not let them eat or drink.

8 But let man and beast be covered with sackcloth. Let everyone call urgently on God. Let them give up their evil ways and their violence.

9 Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish."

10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he had compassion and did not bring upon them the destruction he had threatened.