44 Bible Verses about pharisees

Hearing this the Pharisees made fun of Jesus, because they loved money.

They sent their disciples with the Herodians to Jesus. They said: Teacher we know you are truthful. You teach the way of God in truth. And you are not partial to the influence of men.

Thousands of people in the crowd were gathered together so much that they bumped into one another. He said to his disciples: First of all, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

When you abstain from food, do not be like the hypocrites, with sad faces to be seen by men. They have received their reward. Anoint your head and wash your face. That way, men may not see that you are fasting. Your Father knows in secret and will reward you.

Listen to another illustration. A master of a house made a vineyard, and put a wall around it. He made a wine press and built a tower. Then he rented it to workers and traveled to another country. When the time for the fruit came near, he sent his servants to the workmen, to get the fruit. The workmen attacked his servants, striking one with a stone and killing the other. read more.
He sent other servants more in number than the first. They did the same to them. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'Certainly they will respect my son.' When the workmen saw the son, they said, 'Let us put him to death and take his heritage, for someday he will own this property.' They took him out of the vineyard and killed him. When the lord of the vineyard returns, what will he do to the workmen? They all said: He will put those cruel men to death. Then he will find other workmen who are worthy and who will give him fruit when it is ready. Jesus said to them: Have you read the Scriptures, 'The stone the builders rejected has been made the chief cornerstone of the building. This was Jehovah's doing, and it is wonderful in our eyes.' (Isaiah 28:16) For this reason I tell you, The kingdom of God will be taken away from you. It will be given to a nation producing fruit. Any man falling on this stone will be broken. Any man having this stone fall on him will be crushed to dust. When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his illustrations they realized he was talking about them. They wanted to seize him, but feared the people, because the people saw Jesus as a prophet.

Do not loudly announce it when you give to the poor. The hypocrites do this in the houses of worship and on the streets. They do this to be praised by men. Believe me, they have already been paid in full. When you give gifts, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. Your giving will be in secret and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. read more.
Do not pray like the hypocrites! They want everyone to see them in the houses of worship and on the street corners. I assure you they have been paid in full. Go to your room and close the door. Privately pray to your Father. When your Father sees you he will reward you. Large quantities of meaningless words and repetition are not acceptable in prayer. The pagans think their gods will hear long and repetitious prayers. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus. They questioned him: Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands. His answer to them was in the form of a question: Why do you go against the word of God in favor of your tradition? read more.
God said, 'Honor your father and mother.' 'He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.' You teach that a man should tell his father or mother that what he has that could help them, is given to God. You say there is no need for him to give honor to his father. You have invalidated the word of God because of your tradition! You hypocrites (liars)! Isaiah's prophecy was right about you. These people honor me with their lips, but their heart (innermost thoughts) is far from me. But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.'

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. He answered them: An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. No sign will be given but the sign of Jonah the prophet.

The disciples told him the Pharisees were upset by what he said.

Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him?

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as zealous for God as are all of you.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.

Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus. They questioned him: Why do your disciples go against the teaching of the fathers? They eat food with unwashed hands. His answer to them was in the form of a question: Why do you go against the word of God in favor of your tradition?

The Pharisees and some of the scribes came from Jerusalem to gather around Jesus. They saw that some of his disciples ate their bread with unwashed defiled hands. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat until they wash their hands. They practice the tradition of the elders.) read more.
When they come from the marketplace they wash themselves before they eat. They follow many other rules. They wash their cups, and brass pots, and other vessels. The Pharisees and the scribes asked: Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders. Instead they eat their bread with defiled hands? He told them: Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites. It is written: 'This people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain teaching as doctrines the commands of men.' Speaking to the Pharisees and scribes He said: You abandon the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men. You totally reject the commandment of God that you may keep your tradition. Moses said: 'Honor your father and your mother. He also said: 'He that speaks evil of father or mother must die.' But you say: 'If a man says to his father or his mother that which would benefit you is a gift to God, he no longer has to do anything for his father or mother.' You make the word of God invalid by your tradition. He called the crowd again and said: Listen and understand! Nothing that goes into a person from the outside can make him unclean. That which comes from inside of a man can make him unclean.

Shortly after that he went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees. They were there to eat on the Sabbath. They watched him.

One of the Pharisees asked him to dine with him. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down to eat.

As he spoke a Pharisee invited him to dine with him. He accepted the invitation and went to eat.

The disciples of John asked: Why do your disciples not fast? They frequently fasted, and so did the Pharisees.

I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get.

Pharisees came to him. They tested him, asking: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?

The Pharisees took counsel how they might trap him in his talk. They sent their disciples with the Herodians to Jesus. They said: Teacher we know you are truthful. You teach the way of God in truth. And you are not partial to the influence of men. Tell us what you think? Is it lawful to pay the poll tax to Caesar, or not? read more.
Jesus perceived their wickedness. He said: Why do you test me, you hypocrites? Show me the tribute money. They brought a penny (denarius) to him. He asked: Whose image and superscription is on this coin? Caesar's, they said. Then he said: Pay Caesar the things that are Caesar's. Pay God the things that are God's. When they heard it, they were amazed and left him.

When Paul saw that part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin: Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.

They knew me from the beginning. They could testify that I was from the strictest sect of our religion and I lived as a Pharisee.

When the Pharisees saw it, they asked his disciples: Why does your Teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners? When he heard it, he said: People who are well do not have need of a physician. The sick do. You should learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice'; for I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners.

God said, 'Honor your father and mother.' 'He who says evil of father or mother will be put to death.' You teach that a man should tell his father or mother that what he has that could help them, is given to God. You say there is no need for him to give honor to his father. You have invalidated the word of God because of your tradition! read more.
You hypocrites (liars)! Isaiah's prophecy was right about you. These people honor me with their lips, but their heart (innermost thoughts) is far from me. But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.'

The Pharisees saw it and said to him: Your disciples do that which it is not lawful to do on the Sabbath. He replied to them: Have you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered into the house of God, and he and his companions ate the showbread (holy bread), which it was not lawful for them to eat. It was only lawful for the priests. read more.
Have you read the law that on the Sabbath day the priests in the Temple profane the Sabbath, and are guiltless? I say to you, one greater than the Temple is here. If you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. For the Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath.

He saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism. You offspring of vipers, he said, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance! Do not presume that Abraham is your father. I tell you that God can make descendants for Abraham from these stones! read more.
The ax is ready to cut down the trees at the roots. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

When Paul saw that part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin: Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.

The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit. The Pharisees believe both.

The Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God and were not baptized by him.

But their worship is to no purpose, while they give as their teaching the rules (commands) of men.'

The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.

They wanted to seize him, but feared the people, because the people saw Jesus as a prophet.

The Pharisees left and took counsel against him, to decide how they might destroy him.

The chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council. They asked what they should do. This man does many signs and miracles.

So from that day forth they took counsel that they might put him to death.

Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that, if any man knew where he was, he should report it that they might seize him.

Pharisees came to him. They tested him, asking: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?

One of them, a lawyer, tested him by asking a question.

The Pharisees took counsel how they might trap him in his talk. They sent their disciples with the Herodians to Jesus. They said: Teacher we know you are truthful. You teach the way of God in truth. And you are not partial to the influence of men.

Hearing this the Pharisees made fun of Jesus, because they loved money.

When the chief priests and Pharisees heard his illustrations they realized he was talking about them.

The disciples told him the Pharisees were upset by what he said.

(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat until they wash their hands. They practice the tradition of the elders.)

I advanced as a Jew beyond many of my own age among my countrymen. I was more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

The Pharisees and the scribes asked: Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders. Instead they eat their bread with defiled hands? He told them: Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites. It is written: 'This people honor me with their lips but their heart is far from me. They worship me in vain teaching as doctrines the commands of men.' read more.
Speaking to the Pharisees and scribes He said: You abandon the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men.

The Pharisee saw it and thought to himself if this man were a prophet he would know what kind of woman touched him. She is a sinner.

When the Pharisees saw it, they asked his disciples: Why does your Teacher eat with the tax collectors and sinners?

One day a large number of tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus. Pharisees and teachers of the Law complained: This man welcomes sinners and even eats with them!

Jesus said: Take care to have nothing to do with the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Why do you not understand I was not talking about bread? Instead, about keeping away from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees? Then they realized it was not the leaven of bread he had in mind. It was the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

One of the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had a reputation among all the people. He commanded to put the apostles outside for a while.

There arose a great cry. The scribes who were on the Pharisees' side arose and spoke, We find no evil in this man. But if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

The Pharisee stood and prayed like this: God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.

I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; as touching zeal, persecuting the church; as touching the righteousness which is in the law, found blameless.

You blind guides! You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel!

You fools! You blind men! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold?

The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking 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.

The Pharisees complained: He casts out demons with the help of the ruler of the demons.

When the Pharisees heard it, they said: This man casts out demons by Beelzebub, the prince of the demons.

I was circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;

The believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stated: It is needed to circumcise them and to command them to keep the Law of Moses.

Hearing this the Pharisees made fun of Jesus, because they loved money.

[Verse not found in oldest manuscripts.]

They said: The disciples of John fast often and make supplications. So do the disciples of the Pharisees. But yours eat and drink.

I fast twice per week. I give tithes of all that I get.

He then spoke this illustration to some who trusted in themselves. They were very self-righteous. They looked down on others:

Jesus said: You make yourselves look righteous to other people. God knows your hearts. The things considered of great value by people are worth nothing in God's sight.

One of the Pharisees asked him to dine with him. He went to the Pharisee's house and sat down to eat.

As he spoke a Pharisee invited him to dine with him. He accepted the invitation and went to eat.

The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things concerning him. The chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to capture him.

The chief priests and Pharisees asked the officers: Why did you not bring him?

John gave his witness even as Jewish authorities sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem. They asked him: Who are you?

They were sent from the Pharisees.

I am a Jew, born in Tarsus in Cilicia, but brought up here in Jerusalem as a student of Gamaliel. I received instruction in the Law of our ancestors and was just as zealous for God as are all of you.

They said: The disciples of John fast often and make supplications. So do the disciples of the Pharisees. But yours eat and drink.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You close the kingdom of heaven to people. You do not invite others to enter nor do you enter. [Verse not found in oldest manuscripts.] Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel on both sea and land to make one convert. When this happens, you make him twice as deserving of destruction in the trash fires of the valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna). read more.
Woe to you, you blind guides! You say, 'When you swear by the temple, it is nothing.' Then you say, 'When you swear by the gold of the temple, you are obligated.' You fools! You blind men! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctified the gold? When you swear by an altar, you owe nothing. When you swear by the gift left on the altar, you are obligated. You blind men! What is more important, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift? He who swears by the altar, swears by it and everything on it. He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by him that dwells within it. Thus, he who swears by heaven also swears by the throne of God and him who sits on it. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone. You blind guides! You strain out the gnat and swallow the camel! Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, yet the inside is full of extortion and excess. You are blind. Clean the inside of the cup and platter first. Then clean the outside. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside. They are full of dead men's bones and uncleanness on the inside. You appear righteous to men. However, inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs for the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous. You claim that you would not have been involved with your fathers when they spilled the blood of the prophets. You witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up the (guilt) measure of your fathers. You serpents! You offspring of vipers! How will you escape from being destroyed in the ever-burning fires of the Valley of Hinnom? (Greek: Gehenna, the trash fires in the valley just outside of Jerusalem)

They require recognition in public places and insist on being called Rabbi by men. Do not be called Rabbi (master) (teacher) (leader), for only one is your teacher. You are all brothers. Call no man your father on the earth, for only one is your Father in heaven. read more.
Do not be called master (teacher) (leader), for only one is your master, and he is Christ.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone.

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel on both sea and land to make one convert. When this happens, you make him twice as deserving of destruction in the trash fires of the valley of Hinnom (Greek: Gehenna).

He answered them: An evil and adulterous generation seeks a sign. No sign will be given but the sign of Jonah the prophet.

You serpents! You offspring of vipers! How will you escape from being destroyed in the ever-burning fires of the Valley of Hinnom? (Greek: Gehenna, the trash fires in the valley just outside of Jerusalem)

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that appear beautiful on the outside. They are full of dead men's bones and uncleanness on the inside.

They require recognition in public places and insist on being called Rabbi by men.

They love the place of honor at banquets and the prominent seats in the synagogues.

They chain heavy burdens on your shoulders. Yet they are unwilling to lift even a finger to carry these same burdens.

I also tell you, your righteousness must be greater than the scribes and Pharisees or you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

They do everything to be seen by men. For example: they enlarge their scripture cases for their foreheads and lengthen the tassels on their garments.

He saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism. You offspring of vipers, he said, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest. He asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, that if he found any there who belonged to The Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

The Lord was aware that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John. Actually Jesus did not baptize. His disciples baptized. He left Judea, and departed again into Galilee.

Woe to you! You are as the tombs that do not appear and men walk over them and do not know it.

They knew me from the beginning. They could testify that I was from the strictest sect of our religion and I lived as a Pharisee.

Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in him?

The Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God and were not baptized by him.

The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit. The Pharisees believe both.

When Paul saw that part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin: Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.

The scribes and the Pharisees watched to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. They looked for a way to accuse him.

Hearing this the Pharisees made fun of Jesus, because they loved money.

Two men went to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector.

The Pharisees and Sadducees tested Jesus by asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

Pharisees came to him. They tested him, asking: Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?

The Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God and were not baptized by him.

When Paul saw that part of them were Sadducees and the other part Pharisees, he cried out in the Sanhedrin: Men! Brothers! I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee! I am being judged because of the hope and resurrection of the dead.

No man lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a bushel. He puts it on a table so those who enter may see the light. The lamp of your body is your eye. When your eye is clear your entire body is full of light. When it is evil your body is full of darkness. Make sure the light that is in you is not darkness. read more.
If your entire body is full of light and has no darkness you will have no part of the dark. Just as a lamp when shinning brightly gives plenty of light. As he spoke a Pharisee invited him to dine with him. He accepted the invitation and went to eat. The Pharisee wondered about Jesus not bathing before dinner. The Lord said: You Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter. Yet your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness. You foolish ones. Did he that made the outside also make the inside? Give that which is within as charity. Then all things are clean for you. Woe to you Pharisees! You tithe mint and rue and every herb, and pass over justice and the love of God. You should have done these but you leave them undone. Woe to you Pharisees! You love the prominent seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. Woe to you! You are as the tombs that do not appear and men walk over them and do not know it. One of the lawyers said to him: Teacher, you also insult us by saying this. Jesus said: Woe to you lawyers also! For you load men with burdens that are difficult to bear. And you will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them. Therefore you are witnesses and consent to the works of your fathers. They killed them and you build their tombs. It is for this reason the wisdom of God said, 'I send to them prophets and apostles and they will persecute and kill some of them.' The blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation. This includes the blood of Abel to the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary. I tell you it will be required of this generation. Woe to you lawyers, for you took away the key of knowledge. You did not enter in yourselves and you hindered those entering. When he left there the scribes and the Pharisees became hostile with him. They tried to quarrel with him about many things. They plotted against him and tried to catch him in something he might say.

They answered him: We are Abraham's seed, and have never been in bondage to any man. How can you say we will be made free? Jesus answered: Truly I tell you every one who commits sin is a slave of sin. The slave does not abide in the house forever. The son abides forever. read more.
If therefore the Son will make you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham's seed. Yet you seek to kill me. That is because my word has no place among you. I speak the things that I have seen and heard when I was with my Father. You also do the things that you heard from your father. They answered: Our father is Abraham. Jesus replied: If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. You seek to kill me. I told you the truth! I heard it from God. Abraham did not do this. You do the works of your father. They said: We were not born of fornication. We have one Father, God! Jesus said: If God were your Father you would love me. I came from God! I have not come from myself. He sent me! Why do you not understand what I say? Can you not hear me? You are from your father [Satan] the Devil (slanderer) (false accuser)! You want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning. He does not stand for the truth. There is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks his own lies. He is a liar and the father of the lie! I tell you the truth and you do not believe me. Which of you convicted me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe me? He that is of God hears the words of God. That is why you do not listen. You are not from God! The Jews answered: Do we not speak correctly that you are a Samaritan and have a demon? Jesus answered: I have no demon. I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I do not seek my own glory. There is one that seeks and judges. Truly I tell you if a man obeys my word he will never see death. The Jews said to him: Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died. And you say if a man obeys my word he will never taste of death. Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died! The prophets also died. Who do you make yourself out to be? Jesus answered: If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. My Father glorifies me. He is the one whom you say is your God. You do not know him. I know him. If I say I do not know him I would be like you, a liar! But I know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. He saw it and was glad. The Jews replied: You are not yet fifty years old. Have you seen Abraham? Jesus said: I tell you the truth, I existed before Abraham was born! (Ex 3:14, 15) They took up stones to throw at him. But Jesus hid himself and left the temple.

Then they spoke abusively to him: You are his disciple! We are disciples of Moses. We know that God spoke to Moses. As for this man we do not know where he is from. The man answered: This certainly is a marvel that you do not know where he is from and yet he opened my eyes. read more.
We know that God does not listen to sinners. If any man respects God and does his will, God listens to him. Since the world began no one ever heard of a man opening the eyes of someone born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing. They answered: You were born in sin and you teach us? Then they threw him out.