Pharisees in the Bible

Meaning: set apart

Exact Match

Jesus left there and went into their [i.e., the Pharisees'] synagogues,

Then spake Jesus to the multitudes and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and Pharisees sit in the chair of Moses:

Verse ConceptsCrowdsChrist Speaking To DisciplesDiscipleship

Woe be unto you, scribes and Pharisees, for ye devour widows' houses: and that, under a colour of praying long prayers, wherefore ye shall receive greater damnation.

Verse ConceptsLegalismHypocrites, Description OfProfessingAge DiscriminationNot Helping WidowsToo Many WordsHypocritesHypocrisy

A curse is on you, scribes and Pharisees, false ones! because you put up buildings for housing the dead bodies of the prophets, and make fair the last resting-places of good men, and say,

Verse ConceptsProphets KilledHypocrisy

And likewise also the chief priests, ridiculing with the scholars, and elders, and Pharisees, said,

Verse ConceptsChief priestsCorrupt PriestsMocking ChristOpposition To Christ From ScribesFunpriests

And it happened that he was reclining at table in his house; and many publicans and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many, and scribes of the Pharisees were also following him.

Verse ConceptsFollowing Jesus ChristGuestsHospitality, Examples OfTax CollectorsServing JesusReclining To EatReceiving Jesus As A GuestJesus Eating

the Pharisees watched Jesus, to see if he would heal him on the sabbath-day, that so they might accuse him.

Verse ConceptsWatchfulness, Of BelieversWatching To EntrapWatching ChristJesus HealingThe Sabbath And ChristJesus Healing On Sabbath

Then He said to the Pharisees, "Is it permissible by the law of Moses to do something good, or something harmful on the Sabbath day? To save a life or to kill it?" But they did not reply.

Verse ConceptsFaultsLaw, Jesus Christ's Attitude ToSilenceKept Alive By MenIndividuals Being SilentDo Not MurderDoing GoodPeople Actually Doing EvilThe Sabbath And ChristFinding Fault With JesusJesus Healing On Sabbath

And they asked him, saying, How is it that the Pharisees and scribes say that Elijah must come first?

Verse ConceptsTeachablenessTeachers Of The LawPeople Going BeforeWhy Do Others Do This?

When he was come to the other disciples, he found a great crowd about them, and the Pharisees disputing with them.

Verse ConceptsJudaismCrowds Around JesusChrist With His Disciples

the Scribes and Pharisees upon hearing this consulted together how to destroy him; but they stood in awe of him, because all the people were strangely affected with his doctrine.

Verse ConceptsScribesTeachers Of The LawMalice, Examples OfAmazement, Of Jesus ChristCrowds AmazedChrist TeachingChrist Would Be KilledFear Of ChristOpposition To Christ From Scribes

As Jesus was teaching in the Temple, He responded [to some Pharisees. See Matt. 22:41] by asking, "How is it that the experts in the law of Moses can say that the Christ is the son of David?

Verse ConceptsJesus As Son Of DavidChrist TeachingChrist In The TempleChrist's Origin

And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

Verse ConceptsGod, Power OfPower, God's SavingVillagesPower Of Christ, ShownThe Power Of GodChrist TeachingJesus HealingPharisees Concerned About ChristAtmosphereThe power of Christ

But the experts in the law of Moses and the Pharisees became furious and began discussing among themselves what they could do to Jesus.

Verse Conceptsenemies, of Jesus ChristPharisees, Attitudes To Jesus ChristRevenge, Examples OfTemperPlottingConversationAngry With Christ

Now there was a woman who was in the city, a sinner and when she knew that that Jesus was reclining at meat in the Pharisees house, she brought an alabaster vase of perfume,

Verse ConceptsOintmentBoxesReclining To Eat

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

Verse ConceptsFigurative BurialsNot Knowing WherePeople Being Polluted

Afterwards some of the Pharisees, who deny there is any resurrection, accosted him with this question,

Verse ConceptsHeresiesJudaismPrejudiceResurrection, Of The DeadAre The Dead Raised?

Then certain of the Pharisees answered and said, "Master, thou hast well said."

Verse ConceptsTeachers Of The Law

And Jesus said to them [i.e., the Pharisees. See Matt. 22:41], "How is it that they [i.e., the experts in the law of Moses. See Mark 12:35] can say that the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] is the son of David?

Verse ConceptsChrist's Origin

Then the officers returned to the chief priest and Pharisees,

Verse ConceptsLaying On Hands For EvilArresting Christ

Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. And he said unto them, He put clay upon mine eyes, and I washed, and I see.

But these Jews [i.e., Pharisees] did not believe that the man had been blind and had received his sight back until they called his parents

Verse ConceptsMiracles, Responses ToUnbelief, As Response To GodNot Believing PeopleFrom Birth

The Pharisees said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he restore your sight?"

Verse ConceptsWhat Do They Do?

The man replied, "Is not that strange! You do not know where he came from and yet he restored my sight! [Note: The next sentence may be the beggar stating the Pharisees' argument. See verse 24].

Verse ConceptsAmazingIgnorance, Of ChristNot Knowing About ChristChrist's OriginWhere From?

now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had publish'd an order, that if any man knew where he was, he should give information in order to have him seized.

Verse ConceptsCommands, in NTArresting Christ

Thematic Bible



Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these [things], and they ridiculed him.


And they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and {you do not care what anyone thinks}, {because you do not regard the opinion of people}.


During {this time} [when] a crowd of many thousands had gathered together, so that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, "Beware for yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

"Whenever you fast, do not be sullen like the hypocrites, for they make their faces unrecognizable in order that they may be seen fasting by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! But [when] you are fasting, {put olive oil on your head} and wash your face so that you will not be seen by people as fasting, but to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

"Listen to another parable: There was a man--a master of a house--who planted a vineyard, and put a fence [around] it, and dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower, and leased it to tenant farmers, and went on a journey. And when the season of fruit drew near, he sent his slaves to the tenant farmers to collect his fruit. And the tenant farmers seized his slaves, [one of] whom they beat, and [one of] whom they killed, and [one of] whom they stoned. read more.
Again, he sent other slaves, more than the first [ones], and they did the same [thing] to them. So finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But [when] the tenant farmers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance!' And they seized him [and] threw [him] out of the vineyard and killed [him]. Now when the master of the vineyard arrives, what will he do to those tenant farmers?" They said to him, "He will destroy those evil [men] completely and lease the vineyard to other tenant farmers who will give him the fruits in their season." Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures, 'The stone which the builders rejected, this has become {the cornerstone}. This came about from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes'? For this [reason], I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a people who produce its fruits. And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, and [the one] on whom it falls--it will crush him!" And [when] the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them, and [although they] wanted to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they looked upon him as a prophet.

Therefore whenever you practice charitable giving, do not sound a trumpet in front of you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, in order that they may be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! But you, [when you] practice charitable giving, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, in order that your charitable giving may be in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. read more.
And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to stand [and] pray in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, in order that they may be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full! But whenever you pray, enter into your inner room and shut your door [and] pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. "But [when you] pray, do not babble repetitiously like the pagans, for they think that because of their many words they will be heard. Therefore do not be like them, for your Father knows {what you need} before you ask him.

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat {a meal}." So he answered [and] said to them, "Why do you also break the commandment of God because of your tradition? read more.
For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'The one who speaks evil of father or mother {must certainly die}.' But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or his mother, "Whatever {benefit you would have received} from me [is] a gift [to God]," need not honor his father,' and you make void the word of God for the sake of your tradition. Hypocrites! Isaiah correctly prophesied about you saying, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me, and they worship me in vain, teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.'"

And [when] the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test [him], they asked him to show them a sign from heaven. So he answered [and] said to them, "[When] evening comes you say, '[It will be] fair weather because the sky is red,' and early in the morning, 'Today [it will be] stormy weather, because the sky is red [and] darkening.' You know how to evaluate correctly the appearance of the sky, but you are not able [to evaluate] the signs of the times. read more.
An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, and a sign will not be given to it except the sign of Jonah!" And he left them [and] went away. And [when] the disciples arrived at the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. And Jesus said to them, "Watch out for and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" So they were discussing [this] among themselves, saying, "[It is] because we did not take bread." But knowing [this], Jesus said, "Why are you discussing among yourselves that you did not take bread, [you] of little faith? Do you not yet understand or do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and how many baskets you took up? How do you not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" Then they understood that he did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses. Therefore do and observe everything that they tell you, but do not do as {they do}, for they tell [others to do something] and do not do [it themselves]. And they tie up heavy burdens and put [them] on people's shoulders, but [they] themselves are not willing with their finger to move them read more.
And they do all their deeds in order to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries broad and make their tassels long. And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by people. But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' because one is your teacher, and you are all brothers, And do not call [anyone] your father on earth, for one is your heavenly Father. And do not be called teachers, because one is your teacher, the Christ. And the greatest among you will be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you shut the kingdom of heaven before people! For you do not enter, nor permit those wanting to go in to enter. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you travel around the sea and the dry [land] to make one convert, and when he becomes [one], you make him twice as much a son of hell [as] you [are]! "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound [by his oath].' Fools and blind [people]! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy? And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gift [that is] on it is bound [by his oath].' Blind [people]! For which [is] greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy Therefore the one who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything [that is] on it. And the one who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells [in] it And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the one who sits on it. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and neglect the more important [matters] of the law--justice and mercy and faithfulness! It was necessary to do these [things] {while not neglecting those}. Blind guides who filter out a gnat and swallow a camel! "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean! In the [same] way, on the outside you also appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets!' Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets! And you--fill up the measure of your fathers! Serpents! Offspring of vipers! How will you escape from the condemnation to hell?

And he was expelling a mute demon. Now it happened that [when] the demon came out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were astonished. But some of them said, "By Beelzebul the ruler of demons he expels demons!" And others, [in order to] test [him], were demanding from him a sign from heaven. read more.
But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and {a divided household} falls. So if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say [that] I expel demons by Beelzebul. But if I expel demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons expel [them]? For this [reason] they will be your judges! But if I expel demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you! When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are {safe}. But when a stronger man attacks him [and] conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder. The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters. "Whenever an unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it travels through waterless places searching for rest, and does not find [it]. It says, 'I will return to my house from which I came out.' And [when it] arrives it finds [the house] swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and [they] go in [and] live there. And the last [state] of that person becomes worse than the first!" Now it happened that as he said these [things], a certain woman from the crowd raised [her] voice [and] said to him, "Blessed [is] the womb that bore you, and [the] breasts [at] which you nursed!" But he said, "On the contrary, blessed [are] those who hear the word of God and follow [it]!" And [as] the crowds were increasing, he began to say, "This generation is an evil generation! It demands a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah! For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, [something] greater than Solomon [is] here! The people of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and behold, [something] greater than Jonah [is] here! "No one [after] lighting a lamp puts [it] in a cellar or under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is sincere, your whole body is full of light also. But when it is evil, your body [is] dark also. Therefore pay careful attention [that] the light in you is not darkness! If therefore your whole body [is] full of light, not having any part dark, it will be completely full of light, as when the lamp with [its] light gives light to you." And as he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him {to have a meal} with him, and he went in [and] reclined at table. And the Pharisee, [when he] saw [it], was astonished that he did not first wash before the meal. But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of greediness and wickedness. Fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give [as] charitable giving the things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. "But woe to you, Pharisees, because you pay a tenth of mint and rue and every garden herb, and neglect justice and love for God! But it was necessary to do these [things] without neglecting those things also. Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces! Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, and the people who walk over [them] do not know [it]! And one of the legal experts answered [and] said to him, "Teacher, [when you] say these [things], you insult us also!" So he said, "Woe to you also, legal experts, because you load people [with] burdens hard to bear, and [you] yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers! Woe to you, because you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them! As a result you are witnesses, and you approve of the deeds of your fathers, because they killed them and you build [their tombs]! For this [reason] also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they will kill and persecute,' so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation! Woe to you, legal experts, because you have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering!" And [when] he departed from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile, and to question him closely about many [things], plotting to catch him with reference to something {he might say}.

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to hear him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes were complaining, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!" So he told them this parable, saying, read more.
"What man of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the grassland and go after the one that was lost until he finds it? And [when he] has found [it], he places [it] on his shoulders, rejoicing. And [when he] returns to [his] home, he calls together [his] friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!' I tell you that in the [same] way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Or what woman who has ten drachmas, if she loses one drachma, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and search carefully until she finds [it]? And [when she] has found [it], she calls together [her] friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, because I have found the drachma that I had lost!'


Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you!" But he answered [and] said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation desires a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah!

Then the disciples came [and] said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended [when they] heard this saying?"

{None} of the rulers or of the Pharisees have believed in him, [have they]?


"I am a Jewish man born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the exactness of the law received from our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all [of] you are today.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees {whose name was} Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command [them] to observe the law of Moses!"


Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat {a meal}." So he answered [and] said to them, "Why do you also break the commandment of God because of your tradition?

And the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered to him. And they saw that some of his disciples were eating their bread with unclean--that is, unwashed--hands. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands {ritually}, [thus] holding fast to the traditions of the elders. read more.
And [when they come] from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other [traditions] which they have received [and] hold fast to--[for example,] the washing of cups and pitchers and bronze kettles and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unclean hands?" So he said to them, "Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me. And they worship me in vain, teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.' Abandoning the commandment of God, you hold fast to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You splendidly ignore the commandment of God so that you can keep your tradition. For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'The one who speaks evil of father or mother {must certainly die}.' But you say, 'If a man says to his father or to his mother, "Whatever {benefit you would have received} from me [is] corban" (that is, a gift [to God]), you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother, [thus] making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down, and you do many similar [things] such as this." And summoning the crowd again, he said to them, "Listen to me, all [of you], and understand: There is nothing outside of a person that is able to defile him [by] going into him. But the things that go out of a person are the things that defile a person."


And it happened that when he came to the house of a certain one of the leaders of the Pharisees on a Sabbath to eat {a meal}, they were watching him closely.

Now one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he entered into the house of the Pharisee [and] reclined at the table.

And as he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him {to have a meal} with him, and he went in [and] reclined at table.


Then the disciples of John approached him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?"

I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get.'


And Pharisees came up to him [in order to] test him, and asked if it was permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any cause.

Then the Pharisees went {and consulted} so that they could entrap him with a statement. And they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and {you do not care what anyone thinks}, {because you do not regard the opinion of people}. Therefore tell us what you think. Is it permitted to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" read more.
But [because he] knew their maliciousness, Jesus said, "Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? Show me the coin for the tax!" So they brought him a denarius. And he said to them, "Whose image and inscription [is] this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Therefore give to Caesar the things of Caesar, and to God the things of God!" And [when they] heard [this], they were astonished, and they left him [and] went away.


Now [when] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Men [and] brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!"

having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived [as] a Pharisee.


And [when they] saw [it], the Pharisees began to say to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" And [when he] heard [it], he said, "Those who are healthy do not have need of a physician, but those {who are sick}. But go [and] learn what it means, "I want mercy and not sacrifice." For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."


For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'The one who speaks evil of father or mother {must certainly die}.' But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or his mother, "Whatever {benefit you would have received} from me [is] a gift [to God]," need not honor his father,' and you make void the word of God for the sake of your tradition. read more.
Hypocrites! Isaiah correctly prophesied about you saying, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me, and they worship me in vain, teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.'"


But [when] the Pharisees saw [it], they said to him, "Behold, your disciples are doing what it is not permitted to do on the Sabbath!" So he said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those with him, how he entered into the house of God and ate the bread of the presentation, which it was not permitted for him or for those with him to eat, but only for the priests? read more.
Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple violate the sanctity of the Sabbath and are guiltless? But I tell you that [something] greater than the temple is here! And if you had known what {it means}, 'I want mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath."


But [when he] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance! And do not think to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham [as] father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones! read more.
Already now the ax is positioned at the root of the trees; therefore every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.


Now [when] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Men [and] brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!"

(For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge [them] all.)


but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, [because they] had not been baptized by him.)


and they worship me in vain, teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.'"


But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command [them] to observe the law of Moses!"


and [although they] wanted to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowds, because they looked upon him as a prophet.

But the Pharisees went out {and plotted} against him in order that they could destroy him.

So the chief priests and the Pharisees called together the Sanhedrin and said, "What are we doing? For this man is performing many signs!

So from that day they resolved that they should kill him.

(Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, they should report [it], in order that they could arrest him.)


And Pharisees came up to him [in order to] test him, and asked if it was permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any cause.

And one of them, a legal expert, put a question to [him] to test him:

Then the Pharisees went {and consulted} so that they could entrap him with a statement. And they sent their disciples to him with the Herodians, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and {you do not care what anyone thinks}, {because you do not regard the opinion of people}.


Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these [things], and they ridiculed him.

And [when] the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them,

Then the disciples came [and] said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended [when they] heard this saying?"


(For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands {ritually}, [thus] holding fast to the traditions of the elders.

and was progressing in Judaism beyond many contemporaries in my nation, [because] I was a far more zealous adherent of the traditions handed down by my forefathers.

And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unclean hands?" So he said to them, "Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far, far away from me. And they worship me in vain, teaching [as] doctrines the commandments of men.' read more.
Abandoning the commandment of God, you hold fast to the tradition of men."


Now [when] the Pharisee who invited him saw [this], he spoke to himself, saying, "If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman [this is] who is touching him, that she is a sinner."

And [when they] saw [it], the Pharisees began to say to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

Now all the tax collectors and the sinners were drawing near to hear him. And both the Pharisees and the scribes were complaining, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them!"


And Jesus said to them, "Watch out for and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!"

How do you not understand that I did not speak to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees!" Then they understood that he did not say to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.


But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee {named} Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, [and] gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

And there was loud shouting, and some of the scribes from the party of the Pharisees stood up [and] contended sharply, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man! But [what] if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?"

Now there was a man of the Pharisees {whose name was} Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.


The Pharisee stood [and] prayed these [things] with reference to himself: 'God, I give thanks to you that I am not like other people--swindlers, unrighteous [people], adulterers, or even like this tax collector!

{circumcised on the eighth day}, from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [born] from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee, according to zeal persecuting the church, according to the righteousness in the law being blameless.


Blind guides who filter out a gnat and swallow a camel!

Fools and blind [people]! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy?


And [when] the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test [him], they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him saying, "Teacher, we want to see a sign from you!"


But the Pharisees were saying, "By the ruler of demons he expels the demons!"

But the Pharisees, [when they] heard [it], said, "This man does not expel demons except by Beelzebul the ruler of demons!"


{circumcised on the eighth day}, from the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew [born] from Hebrews, according to the law a Pharisee,

But some of those who had believed from the party of the Pharisees stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command [them] to observe the law of Moses!"


Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these [things], and they ridiculed him.



And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and make prayers--likewise also the [disciples] of the Pharisees--but yours are eating and drinking!"

I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all that I get.'


And he also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and looked down on {everyone else}:

And he said to them, "You are the ones who justify themselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts! For [what is] [considered] exalted among men [is] an abomination in the sight of God.


Now one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he entered into the house of the Pharisee [and] reclined at the table.

And as he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him {to have a meal} with him, and he went in [and] reclined at table.


The Pharisees heard the crowd murmuring these [things] about him, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers in order {to take him into custody }.

So the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees. And they said to them, "{Why} did you not bring him?"


And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem so that they could ask him, "Who are you?"

(And they had been sent from the Pharisees.)


"I am a Jewish man born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, educated according to the exactness of the law received from our fathers, being zealous for God, just as all [of] you are today.

And they said to him, "The disciples of John fast often and make prayers--likewise also the [disciples] of the Pharisees--but yours are eating and drinking!"


"But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you shut the kingdom of heaven before people! For you do not enter, nor permit those wanting to go in to enter. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you travel around the sea and the dry [land] to make one convert, and when he becomes [one], you make him twice as much a son of hell [as] you [are]! "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gold of the temple is bound [by his oath].' read more.
Fools and blind [people]! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy? And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing! But whoever swears by the gift [that is] on it is bound [by his oath].' Blind [people]! For which [is] greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy Therefore the one who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything [that is] on it. And the one who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells [in] it And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the one who sits on it. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and neglect the more important [matters] of the law--justice and mercy and faithfulness! It was necessary to do these [things] {while not neglecting those}. Blind guides who filter out a gnat and swallow a camel! "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence! Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean! In the [same] way, on the outside you also appear righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in the blood of the prophets!' Thus you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets! And you--fill up the measure of your fathers! Serpents! Offspring of vipers! How will you escape from the condemnation to hell?


and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by people. But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' because one is your teacher, and you are all brothers, And do not call [anyone] your father on earth, for one is your heavenly Father. read more.
And do not be called teachers, because one is your teacher, the Christ.


"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you pay a tenth of mint and dill and cumin, and neglect the more important [matters] of the law--justice and mercy and faithfulness! It was necessary to do these [things] {while not neglecting those}.


"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you travel around the sea and the dry [land] to make one convert, and when he becomes [one], you make him twice as much a son of hell [as] you [are]!


But he answered [and] said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation desires a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah!


Serpents! Offspring of vipers! How will you escape from the condemnation to hell?


"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees--hypocrites!--because you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and of everything unclean!


and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi' by people.


And they love the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues


And they tie up heavy burdens and put [them] on people's shoulders, but [they] themselves are not willing with their finger to move them


For I say to you that unless your righteousness greatly surpasses [that] of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter into the kingdom of heaven.


And they do all their deeds in order to be seen by people, for they make their phylacteries broad and make their tassels long.


But [when he] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?


But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest [and] asked for letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, both men and women, he could bring [them] tied up to Jerusalem.


Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.


Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, and the people who walk over [them] do not know [it]!


having known me for a long time, if they are willing to testify, that in accordance with the strictest party of our religion I lived [as] a Pharisee.


{None} of the rulers or of the Pharisees have believed in him, [have they]?


but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, [because they] had not been baptized by him.)


(For the Sadducees say there is no resurrection or angel or spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge [them] all.)


Now [when] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Men [and] brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!"


So the scribes and the Pharisees were watching closely [to see] if he would heal on the Sabbath, in order that they could find [a reason] to accuse him.


Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these [things], and they ridiculed him.


"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

And [when] the Pharisees and Sadducees came to test [him], they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

And Pharisees came up to him [in order to] test him, and asked if it was permitted for a man to divorce his wife for any cause.

but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, [because they] had not been baptized by him.)

Now [when] Paul realized that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he shouted out in the Sanhedrin, "Men [and] brothers! I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees! I am being judged concerning the hope and the resurrection of the dead!"

But a certain man stood up in the Sanhedrin, a Pharisee {named} Gamaliel, a teacher of the law respected by all the people, [and] gave orders to put the men outside for a short time.

But [when he] saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, "Offspring of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit on the seat of Moses.

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem, saying,


"No one [after] lighting a lamp puts [it] in a cellar or under a bushel basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who come in can see the light. Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is sincere, your whole body is full of light also. But when it is evil, your body [is] dark also. Therefore pay careful attention [that] the light in you is not darkness! read more.
If therefore your whole body [is] full of light, not having any part dark, it will be completely full of light, as when the lamp with [its] light gives light to you." And as he was speaking, a Pharisee asked him {to have a meal} with him, and he went in [and] reclined at table. And the Pharisee, [when he] saw [it], was astonished that he did not first wash before the meal. But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of greediness and wickedness. Fools! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But give [as] charitable giving the things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. "But woe to you, Pharisees, because you pay a tenth of mint and rue and every garden herb, and neglect justice and love for God! But it was necessary to do these [things] without neglecting those things also. Woe to you, Pharisees, because you love the best seat in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces! Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, and the people who walk over [them] do not know [it]! And one of the legal experts answered [and] said to him, "Teacher, [when you] say these [things], you insult us also!" So he said, "Woe to you also, legal experts, because you load people [with] burdens hard to bear, and [you] yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers! Woe to you, because you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them! As a result you are witnesses, and you approve of the deeds of your fathers, because they killed them and you build [their tombs]! For this [reason] also the wisdom of God said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they will kill and persecute,' so that the blood of all the prophets that has been shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the temple building. Yes, I tell you, it will be required of this generation! Woe to you, legal experts, because you have taken away the key to knowledge! You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering!" And [when] he departed from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly hostile, and to question him closely about many [things], plotting to catch him with reference to something {he might say}.

They replied to him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have not been enslaved to anyone at any time. How do you say, 'You will become free'?" Jesus replied to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, that everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. And the slave does not remain in the household {forever}; the son remains {forever}. read more.
So if the son sets you free, you will be truly free. I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are seeking to kill me, because my word makes no progress among you. I speak [the things] that I have seen with the Father; so also you do [the things] that you have heard from the Father." They answered and said to him, "Abraham is our father!" Jesus said to them, "If you are children of Abraham, do the deeds of Abraham! But now you are seeking to kill me, a man who spoke to you the truth which I heard from God. This Abraham did not do. You are doing the deeds of your father!" They said to him, "We were not born from sexual immorality! We have one father, God!" Jesus said to them, "If God were your father, you would love me, for I have come forth from God and have come. For I have not come from myself, but that one sent me. {Why} do you not understand my way of speaking? Because you are not able to listen to my message. You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father! That one was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand firm in the truth, because truth is not in him. Whenever he speaks the lie, he speaks from his own [nature], because he is a liar and the father {of lies}. But because I am telling the truth, you do not believe me. Who among you convicts me concerning sin? If I am telling the truth, {why} do you not believe me? The one who is from God listens to the words of God. Because of this you do not listen--because you are not of God." The Jews answered and said to him, "Do we not correctly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" Jesus replied, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me! But I do not seek my [own] glory. There is one who seeks and judges! Truly, truly I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never experience death {forever}." The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon! Abraham and the prophets died, and you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death {forever}.' You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, [are you]? And the prophets died! Who do you make yourself [to be]?" Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. The one who glorifies me is my Father, [about] whom you say, 'He is our God.' And you have not known him, but I know him. And if I were to say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you! But I know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced that he would see my day, and he saw [it] and was glad." So the Jews said to him, "{You are} not yet fifty years [old], and have you seen Abraham?" Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly I say to you, before Abraham was, I am!" Then they picked up stones in order to throw [them] at him. But Jesus was hidden and went out of the temple [courts].

They reviled him and said, "You are his disciple! But we are disciples of Moses! We know that God has spoken to Moses, but we do not know where this man is from." The man answered and said to them, "For the remarkable thing is this, that you do not know where he is from, and he opened my eyes! read more.
We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if someone is devout and does his will, he listens to this one. From {time immemorial} it has not been heard that someone opened the eyes of one born blind. If this man were not from God, he would not be able to do anything!" They answered and said to him, "You were born completely in sin, and are you attempting to teach us?" And they threw him out.


References

Hastings

Easton

American

Fausets

Morish

Smith

Watsons