02/28/2026
Article References: JW.ORG
* Jesus—The Way, the Truth, the Life
* Watchtower Online Library - Insight on the Scripturee Vol 2
Who Were the Pharisees?
It's important to note that the Pharisees were not inherently bad people. They were a devout and respected Jewish lay movement dedicated to strict adherence to the Torah (the Law of Moses) and the oral traditions that had developed around it. Their intention was noble: to "build a fence around the Law" to ensure people didn't accidentally break God's commands. They wanted to make the sacred accessible and applicable to everyday life.
The problem wasn't their zeal for God's law, but the way that zeal became corrupted. Over time, the focus shifted from loving God and neighbor to rigidly keeping the rules. The rules became an end in themselves, a source of pride and a tool for social control.
The "Leaven of the Pharisees": The Heart of the Problem
Jesus called them hypocrites (from the Greek word hypokrisis, meaning "play-acting" or "wearing a mask") because their outward appearance of holiness was a performance that masked an inner reality of spiritual sickness. They were "whitewashed tombs," as he put it—beautiful on the outside, but full of death on the inside.
Here are the key attitudes that define this "Pharisaical" spirit, with examples from the Gospels and how they relate to the people you describe:
1. Elevating Human Traditions Above God's Commands
The Pharisees were so focused on their own interpretations and traditions that they sometimes used them to circumvent the very heart of God's law.
· Biblical Example (Mark 7:9-13): Jesus accuses them of nullifying the word of God for the sake of their tradition. The specific example is "Corban." A person could dedicate their wealth to God (the temple treasury) and then claim they had no resources left to care for their aging parents, thus breaking the 5th Commandment to honor one's father and mother. Their man-made rule about dedicating gifts to God was used to justify neglecting a clear, God-given command to love and care for family.
· Modern Application: This happens when religious leaders or followers cling to a man-made rule or cultural tradition with such ferocity that it directly contradicts a more fundamental principle of love, mercy, or justice.
· Example: A religious community that shuns a young woman who becomes pregnant out of wedlock, citing "standards of holiness," while ignoring the clear biblical command to bear one another's burdens and restore the fallen with a spirit of gentleness (Galatians 6:1). The tradition of "maintaining a good reputation" is elevated above the command to show mercy.
2. Performing Righteousness for Show (Hypocrisy)
This is the core of "play-acting." Their religious life was a performance for an audience, not a genuine expression of devotion to God.
· Biblical Example (Matthew 6:5, 16; 23:5-7): Jesus warns against those who pray on street corners to be seen by people, who disfigure their faces when fasting so others will admire their piety, and who love the places of honor at banquets and being called 'Rabbi' by others. They did their "acts of righteousness" to be seen and praised by men.
· Modern Application: This is the person whose religion is entirely external and public-facing.
· Example: A business owner who loudly prays in public before meals but underpays his employees and treats them poorly. His piety is a show.
· Example: The person who always says "I'll pray for you" in a public, performative way to sound spiritual, but never actually does it and shows no practical compassion. This is the mask of spirituality without its substance.
3. Loading Heavy Burdens on Others
The Pharisees created a complex system of rules that made religious life a heavy, joyless burden. They were experts at telling others what they had to do, but offered no help, compassion, or grace.
· Biblical Example (Matthew 23:4): "They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them."
· Modern Application: This is the leader or devout person who is quick to condemn and quick to impose rules, but slow to show grace or offer practical help.
· Example: A church leader who preaches a harsh, legalistic sermon about tithing to a struggling, low-income family, demanding they give 10% of their meager income, without ever offering to help them find a job, pay a bill, or understand the biblical principle of cheerful, generous giving that flows from a grateful heart. They add a burden of guilt without lifting a finger to help carry the load of poverty.
4. Self-Righteousness and Contempt for Others
This is the inevitable result of the other attitudes. When you believe you have achieved righteousness through your own rule-keeping, you naturally look down on those who fail to meet your standard.
· Biblical Example (Luke 18:9-14 - The Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector): The Pharisee prays, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." His "righteousness" is entirely based on comparing himself favorably to others. He has no need for God's mercy because he believes he has earned God's favor on his own.
· Modern Application: This is the attitude you described of those who "always cling to what their leader say" and use that loyalty as a badge of superiority.
· Example: A person who says, "Well, my pastor says [X], so those Christians who believe [Y] are clearly deceived and not true believers." Their identity and righteousness are derived from their strict adherence to their leader's teachings, which they use as a weapon to judge and dismiss everyone else. They are self-righteous not because of their own merits, but because of the group they belong to and their unquestioning loyalty to it.
Conclusion: Why "Evil"?
Jesus called this attitude "evil" because it fundamentally corrupts the relationship between God and humanity. It:
· Misrepresents God: It portrays God as a petty, legalistic bookkeeper, not a loving Father.
· Destroys People: It crushes human dignity under the weight of impossible rules and breeds condemnation instead of lifting people up with grace and love.
· Builds a False Righteousness: It allows people to feel secure in their own self-made religion, blinding them to their genuine need for God's mercy and transformation of the heart. They trust in their own "doing" rather than in God's grace.
The people you describe—those who say "do this, don't do that" without the spirit of love, and those who cling to leaders without question—may be exhibiting this same spirit. The core issue is always the same: an external religion of the lips and actions has replaced an internal religion of the heart. It is the difference between a relationship with God based on humble faith and a system of self-justification based on human effort and tribal loyalty.
