What does it mean to be pharisaical?

Answer

The adjective “pharisaical” literally means “similar to the Pharisees.” In common usage, however, the term “pharisaical” is used to describe someone who is hypocritical and/or self-righteous, characteristics for which the Pharisees in the New Testament were known.

The Pharisees often faced severe criticism from Jesus. In Matthew 23, in the seven woes, Jesus portrays the Pharisees as individuals who do not practice what they preach “all therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.”, (Matthew 23:3); burdening people heavily “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.”, (Matthew 23:4); performing deeds to be seen by others “But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments.”, (Matthew 23:5); seeking places of honor “and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues.”, (Matthew 23:6); blocking the entrance to the kingdom of heaven for others “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.”, (Matthew 23:13); and making their followers twice as much a child of hell as they are themselves “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye com

Pass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, you make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.” (Matthew 23:15); and are rightly called blind guides “Woe unto you, you blind guides, who say, ‘Whoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!'” (Matthew 23:16), blind fools “You fools and blind: for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold?” (Matthew 23:17), hypocrites “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but inside they are full of extortion and excess.” (Matthew 23:25), whitewashed tombs “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitened sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but inside are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” (Matthew 23:27), and a brood of vipers “You serpents, you generation of vipers, how can you escape the damnation of hell?” (Matthew 23:33).

The Pharisees placed burdens on people that God never intended and then hypocritically exempted themselves from the very rules they taught. Biblically speaking, that is what it means to be pharisaical. The Pharisees thought that, since they obeyed the letter of the law, they were right with God. Jesus strongly disagreed (Matthew 15:8;cf: Isaiah 29:13). The

Pharisees believed that adding rules to God’s law was necessary. God’s Word says otherwise (1 Corinthians 4:6; Revelation 22:18-19).

To avoid being pharisaical today, we should practice what we preach, not attempt to improve upon God’s Word (Isaiah 55:11; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12), and observe true righteousness (Galatians 6:2; Matthew 5:21-30; James 1:27).

The Pharisees were the ultimate hypocrites, claiming nearness to God yet rejecting the Son of God who stood right in front of them. While we cannot completely avoid hypocrisy in that we preach an impossible standard «because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. », (1 Peter 1:16), we must be humble and repentant when we fall short of that goal.

The Pharisees elevated their own traditions to the level of Scripture. While not denying the value of some traditions, we should make sure we hold to our traditions lightly while we have an iron grip on God’s Word.

The Pharisees pretended to be passionate for God while their hearts were far from Him. We should strive to obey the law of Christ and urge others to do the same, declaring God’s truth with compassionate love «but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: », (Ephesians 4:15).