JUDAISM, IS IT THE RELIGION OF THE OLD TESTAMENT?
Part 12
Why were the Pharisees divided among themselves in New Testament times? Why did they come to Jesus to ask Him
to settle disputes?
In previous articles of this series, it was shown how the Pharisees and other chief leaders of the Jews disregarded the
Word of God. They had accepted customs that came directly from heathenism, which Scripture clearly commands us
not to do! "Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not
the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them " (Jer. 10:1-2).
In many cases they knowingly and willingly taught commandments that were completely contrary to the plain word of
God. They even ADMITTED that in so doing they were leaving the teachings of Moses. The majority of these
commandments of the Pharisees were enacted on the pretext that they had special divine revelatory powers from God
to reveal to the Jews His present will. The Scriptures, to their reasoning, could not suffice alone for teaching the people!!
The written Torah (the Old Testament) was good for the age in which it was given, or in which it was first read; but the
written Torah alone "could not suffice for later ages" (Herford, Talmud and Apocrypha, pg. 113). This prevailing
opinion of the Pharisaic teachers is manifest in modernism in Protestants today!!
Pharisees make void God's Laws! The Pharisees were confronted time and time again with many Mosaic
commandments which they considered impractical in the society in which they were living. This led them to dangerous
conclusions. Since they were living in a later age than Moses and because times had changed considerably they felt that
many of the Laws of the Scriptures had to be drastically altered or in some cases, completely annulled! The Pharisees
saw no reason why such alteration or rescission should not be done, especially since they convinced themselves they
were in authority to reveal the current will of God.
Herford says "that these Pharisaic teachers came to the place many times of actually annulling an express command in
the written Torah (the Scriptures) and replacing it by a halachah (their own law) in accordance with a (supposed) higher
moral standard" (Talmud and Apocrypha, pg. 73).
Jesus refers to one Law of God among many, that they completely set aside or annulled. Notice, Mark 7:10-13: "For
Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say,
If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by
me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of
none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and MANY SUCH LIKE THINGS DO YE." In this case,
they had actually annulled a specific one of the Ten Commandments of God that had been given through Moses at Mt.
Sinai. They claimed to have given to God offerings that should have been used to help Father and Mother.
We are left in no doubt about the attitude of the Pharisees in regard to Moses and his teachings. If they did not approve
of what Moses taught, they rejected him! It was just that simple! Jesus said, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have
believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:46-47).
Actually, the Pharisees had come to the place of believing it impossible to keep the civil Law of Moses. The only thing
they could do, they reasoned, was either to alter, or disregard, many of its "impractical" instructions. They had no
hesitation in carrying out their intentions.
"The teachers ..... were quite aware of the extreme gravity of the step they were taking, they intended to modify the
written commandments in various ways, and in the course of time actually did so in NUMBERLESS CASES. Ye they
had before them the plain injunction (Deu.4:2, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye
diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you") (Herford,
Talmud and Apocrypha, pg. 113).
It is almost impossible to believe that religious leaders claiming to serve God would be so bold as to do such things, but
the Pharisees intentionally did so. "This conclusion that the written word of the Torah might be modified or set aside,
or even annulled (as sometimes done), was DELIBERATELY DRAWN AND CONSISTENTLY ACTED UPON by
the teachers who developed the halachah (the new Pharisaic laws)" (ibid. Pg. 112).
Do we wonder why Christ condemned the teaching of the Pharisees? Is it any wonder that Christ was so indignant at
the doctrines of the Pharisees? Should we be amazed that He so sharply rebuked them? "He answered and said unto
them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their
heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying
aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like
things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition"
(Mark 7:6-9).
We have now seen the background of the Pharisees, and where their beliefs and attitudes came from regarding the Word
of God. Scriptures of the New Testament take on much more meaning. We can understand why Jesus rebuked the
Pharisees as they had never been rebuked before. "But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the
commandment of God by your tradition?" (Matt. 15:3). Further He said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead
men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of
hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matt. 23:27-28). Many Churches today follow the Pharisees! In many Churches of God we
find thousands of individuals who are like the Pharisees of New Testament times. Many Churches of God and "Christian
Churches" have modified the commandments of God (postponing God's Sabbaths and Holy Days). The Catholic and
Protestant Churches postponed the Sabbath to Sunday and Judaism and most Churches of God postpone the annual
Holy Days! (Church of God, In Truth). Many have disannulled the commandments of Christ. Yes, our modern Christian
civilization of this Western World is in the same or worse spiritual condition as were the Pharisees!
The past and present leaders of Christian churches have resorted to the same tactics as did the Pharisaic leaders. Modern
Christianity has paralleled the Jewish leaders of New Testament time in assuming the prerogative of altering,
overlooking and rescinding the plain commandments of the Scripture. Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and
forever (Heb. 13:8), condemns it! Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of
men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and
many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may
keep your own tradition" ( Mark 7:7-9).
Why Churches modify the Commandments of Christ? There are millions of individuals today who, like the Pharisees,
claim to follow Christ, and yet have modified the plain and simple commandments of Christ. All readers of the Bible,
scholars and laymen alike, are quite aware that the Sabbath is the day set aside by God for divine worship. "Thus the
heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had
made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and
sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. These are the generations
of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens"
(Gen 2:1-4). Israel was given instructions on Mt. Sinai: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou
labour, and do all thy work" ( Exo 20: 8-9). The Sabbath is from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. All true followers
of God have kept this day as the day of rest and worship. The Jews of Christ's day as well were observing this day.
Christ Himself, kept the true Sabbath, having ordained it at re-creation as a day for the benefit of all mankind. "And
He said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also
of the sabbath" (Mark 2:27-28). The early New Testament Church observed the Sabbath, and that day only, as the
weekly day of rest and worship. This was the only day which the early Church observed: this all competent Church
Histories affirm.
There is no indication or even the slightest hint, in the Scripture that the Sabbath was to be abrogated and another day
substituted for it. The Sabbath was set apart --sanctified--by the authority of God and no man has been given the
authority to change God's Sabbaths--weekly or annual!! Most say the Sabbath is changed to Sunday. Yet Scripture
clearly says Christ kept the Sabbath Day. Today, Christians modify God's Word as did the Pharisees of old! Millions
of people today who claim to be following Christ and the Bible, who repudiate the plain command of God in regards
to His Holy day-- the Sabbath, by observing another day. These people are not following the Bible commands but are
rather following the command of the Roman Catholic Church which admits that it, not the bible, is the author of Sunday
keeping! (See "Who Changed the Sabbath? Pg. 1-5, Published by Knights of Columbus, St. Louis, Mo.).
The majority of professing Christians today assume the Sabbath command has been annulled. But it certainly has not
been done away with in the Bible! It has only supposedly been annulled by the Roman Catholic Church and all the
Protestant denominations which follow her decisions in this matter.
Another example how Christian churches have disregarded Christ's teachings is found in the book of John. "If I then,
your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an
example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15). Very few people who call themselves Christian,
follow Christ's example! Most people have completely disregarded the teachings of Christ and do not follow His
examples as taught in the New Testament. Christ said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have
commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt. 28:19- 20). The majority
of ministers are using the same reason for disregarding Scripture, (i.e. times have changed!) as did the Pharisees in
Christ's day.
Our Western World is doing today exactly the same thing the Pharisees did in New Testament times. It is about time
we wake up and get back to the true faith which was once delivered to the saints of God. "Beloved, when I gave all
diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye
should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3).
God's Church today does not add to His Words, neither does it subtract from them. It is in obedience to His
commandments. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him,
and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (I John 2:3-4).
PHARISEES' COMMANDMENTS MORE BINDING THAN SCRIPTURE
The Pharisees did not stop with merely modifying, disregarding or even annulling Scripture. "They maintained that the
commandments they enacted in the place of Scripture were of more importance that the Scripture itself. The law of
custom was quite as binding as the written Torah; nay it was even decided that opposition to the decrees of the Scribes
was a heavier transgression than opposition to the decrees of the Torah" (The Jewish People in the Times of Christ, sec.
ii, vol i, pg. 333, 334).
Let's look at the Talmud and see some statements of some of the early Pharisees themselves. Their situation in regard
to their own teachings will be obvious. From the Jerusalem Talmud, Berakoth i, 7, we read: "The sayings of the elders
have more weight that those of the prophets." The elders, in this case is the Pharisees. In Sanhedrin xi, 3, it says: "An
offense against the sayings of the Scribes is worse than one against those of the Scriptures." They demanded the people
refer to them as spiritual "Father," "Rabbi," or "Master" (Makkoth 24s). Christ say in His Word: "And greetings in the
markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and
all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be
ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ" (Matthew 23:7-10).
"Today in some Churches of God, we see these groups calling Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, their spiritual father! This
is wrong!! This is not following the direct command of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master! Can we disannul God written
commands? (Church of God, In Truth)." This is no better then the Pharisees who taught the people must reverence them
almost as God Himself. "Let thine esteem for thy friend border upon they respect for thy teacher, and respect for thy
teacher on reverence for God" (Aboth, iv, 12).
"Each scribe {learned Pharisee} out- weighted all the common people, who must accordingly pay him every honour.
Nay, they were honoured of God Himself, and their praises proclaimed by the angels; and in heaven also, each of them
would hold the same rank and distinction as on earth. Such was to be the respect paid to their says, that they were to
absolute believed, even if they were to declare that to be at the right hand which was at the left, or vice versa (i.e. even
if they proclaimed doctrines contradictory to Scripture)" (Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Vol. i, pg.
90).
Because of the religious authority that the Pharisees claimed they had, they in general demanded the first rank in all
circumstances. "And (the Pharisees) love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And
greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi" (Matt. 23:6-7). The term "Rabbi"means, literally, "My
Master." It denotes the personal ruler or leader of the people.
Edersheim records an incident of two great Rabbis who were complaining because they had been greeted in the market
place by the common greeting "May your peace be great" without the added "My Master" (Life and Times of Jesus the
Messiah, vol ii, pg. 409). "So weighty was the duty of respectful salutation by {Use of} the title Rabbi, that to neglect
it would involve the heaviest punishment" (ibid. Vol. ii pg. 409).
The unusual esteem accorded to the Pharisaic teachers is purely a product of Hellenistic influence. The Greeks
maintained a high reverence for the scholars, teachers and men of wisdom. Titles of respect and reverential honor were
used in the Greek schools for their teachers. The use of "Rabbi," "Master," "Father" and various other exalted titles of
the Pharisees was certainly borrowed from the examples of the Greeks. A learned Jewish historian, Moses Hadas, admits
that these various customs of the Rabbis "were parallel to Greek usages, and shall suggest that since they were
introduced after the spread of Hellenism they might have been inspired by Greek practice. The extraordinary reverence
paid to learning may be part and parcel of this same influence" (Hellenistic Culture, pg. 71).
True Christian disciples are warned not to assume these exalted titles of "Rabbi, Father or Master." Such high, eminent
titles of respect are deserved only by God. He is Master and LORD. He is the spiritual Father of the faithful. The
Pharisees had no right to arrogate to themselves such titles, and neither does any minister. Today, however, the majority
of Christian ministers are appropriating as a designation the very names that God says not to use. How many priest
today are called "Father?" How many ministers use the title of "Reverend" which, in the Scripture, is used only as a
designation of God. "He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and reverend
is His name" (Psa. 111:9).
Before the birth of Christ, many of the Pharisees had formed themselves into institutions, or what became know as
Schools, for the purpose of study and counsel concerning the legislation of new laws. Those who felt one particular way
in regard to new legislation would assemble with other Pharisees who believed in a similar vein. The two major Schools
of the Pharisees were the School of Hillel and the School of Shammai. The two founders of these Schools, Hillel and
Shammai, gathered together other Pharisees who believed in many ways similar to themselves. Both these Schools
issued new commandments in regard to religious worship. Both these Schools of the Pharisees contradict each other!
"These two major Schools of the Pharisees were the rivals of one another. The points in which they disagreed were
virtually innumerable" (Cyc. of Bib. Theo. And Ecc. Lit., vol ix, pg. 472).
It has been supposed that the tendency of the Hillel School was to make the new commandments they enacted less
burdensome, and that the Shammai School made commandments which were heavier and more burdensome. However,
both Schools legislated many strict and burdensome commandments, over and above the requirements of Scripture, and
Edersheim shows that the Hillel School was even more strict than the Shammai in some cases" (Life and Times of Jesus
the Messiah, vol. ii, pg. 407).
The commandments of these two Schools covered practically every religious practice of the Jews. They made many
ridiculous and overly burdensome commandments concerning the observance of the Sabbath. They enacted strict
ritualistic laws regarding the washing of the hands, pots, pans, jars, etc. They also made numerous ritualistic regulations
regarding the preparing and eating of foods. Their teachings extended to all phases of physical worship.
It is ironic that these two Schools were both composed of Pharisees and yet their teachings, in so many cases, were
totally at variance with one another. One School would bring out a new commandment regarding a particular religious
rite or custom, and proclaim that the new commandment was mandatory for all pious Jews to perform. In consequence
of this, the other School would issue a similar commandment, usually as a rebuttal and in most cases diametrically
opposite from the other. "Controversy between these two groups extended over many topics and excited considerable
warmth of feeling" (Herford, Judaism in the New Testament Period, pg. 160).
As mentioned before: "The points on which they differed were almost innumerable" (Cyc. Of Bibl, Theo. And Ecc. Lit.
Vol ix, pg. 472). Both of these Schools vied for absolute authority!! The controversies between these two major
Pharisaic Schools were undoubtedly sparked by the desire of both of them to be the ultimate authority among the
Pharisees. Edersheim says: "In truth, their differences seem too often prompted by a spirit of opposition, so that the
serious business of religion became in their hands one of rival authority and mere wrangling" (Life and Times of Jesus
the Messiah, vol ii, pg. 407).
This was the condition of the Pharisees just before and during the days of Christ! Like professing Christianity today,
the Pharisees were in confusion over their own doctrines. Their continual arguing among themselves placed them in
embarrassing positions among the people and the other religious sects. Yet, they continued their squabbles and
controversies. "Many, very many of them (their controversies) are so utterly trivial and absurd that only the hairsplitting
ingenuity of theologians can account for them: others so profane that it is difficult to understand how any religion could
co-exist with them. Conceive, for example, two schools in controversy wither it was lawful to kill a louse on the
Sabbath" (ibid., vol ii, pg. 407, note 4).
The controversies between these two Schools were so numerous---and some so vulgar--that it is impractical to list them
all. For any who may be interested in them, a list has been prepared by Schurer. See his book, "The Jewish People in
the Time of Jesus Christ, sec ii, vol i, pg. 361.
You can imagine what the controversies between these two prominent Pharisaical Schools did to the faith of the people
who were endeavoring to observe the teachings of the Schools. Who were the people to believe? Both Schools claimed
to be speaking the words of God, and yet they violently disagreed with one another in almost every point!! These two
Schools were not the only dissentious bodies among the Pharisees. "The Pharisees at this time were sharply divided into
various sections which were not exhausted by the rival schools of Hillel and Shammai" (ABC, pg. 841). "The Pharisees
were divided into many sects, and the doctrines of individual teachers were often contradictory...." (Condor, Judas
Maccabaeus, pg. 205).
It is important to realize that no real creed existed among the Pharisees. "The Pharisees were never a homogeneous body
possessed of a definite policy or body of doctrines" (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Ed. Vol xxi, pg. 347).
The differences of opinion among all the Pharisees arose with the making of new commandments, in the Second Century
B.C. by Joseph ben Joezer, called "The Permitter." This reminds us of modern Christianity with all its differing doctrines
and conflicting beliefs. Yet, each Church claims that it is preaching the truth of God and Christ!!
Lauterbach records an attempt to reconcile the teachings of the Hillel and Shammai Schools and still show that both
their teachings were the Words of God. He refers to a statement in the Talmud found in Erubin 13b. "A heavenly voice
was heard declaring that both the words of the School of Hillel and the words of the School of Shammai (despite their
disagreements, Lauterbach's note) are the words of the living God, but the practical decision should be according to the
words of the School of Hillel" (Rabbinic Essays, pg. 243, note 78). The majority of the Pharisees favored the Hillel
School more than any other, and this led to the conciliating parties leaning toward that particular School's teachings.
In the Talmud, Gittin 6b, there is another reference, this time to a Jew named Elijah (not the prophet) who endeavored
to reconcile the differences between two Pharisaic teachers. Elijah is reported "to have said that God declared BOTH
the opposing views of Rabbi Abiathar and Rabbi Jonathan to be the words of the living God" (ibid., pg. 243, note 78).
"All these utterances were intended to serve as a refutation of the attacks made against the teachings of the Rabbis
(Pharisees) on account of their disagreements" (ibid, pg. 243, note 78).
It was impossible for the Pharisees to directly admit that one or the other School was wrong (or as actually was the case,
that both were wrong). They were forced to concede that both Schools conflicting teachings were from God!! What
nonsense!!!
The School of Hillel became the most important! The majority of the Pharisees followed the decisions of the Hillel
School and this led to the complete ascendency of that School" (Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, vol
i pg. 239). It was not until the destruction of Jerusalem in 69 AD and the subsequent dispersal of the Jews from
Palestine, that the Hillel School became the paramount teaching body. During the lifetime of Christ and the Apostle
Paul, the Pharisees were still divided into the various Schools. But the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews tended to
solidify their schismatic groups. Many of the Jewish sects became extinct after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and
most of the Jews gravitated towards adhering to the Hillel School of interpretation. Orthodox Judaism today has for its
basis the teachings of Pharisees who maintained the commandments and principles of the Hillel School.
However, in the days just before and during the life of Christ, the Pharisees were still having their rivalries among
themselves. They were teaching their manifold contradictory commandments from various Schools!! It is not difficult
to understand why Christ condemned the Pharisees for rejecting the commandments of God and for "teaching for
doctrines the commandments of men." They had left the simple and plain Law which God had given them through
Moses and had replaced it with their own set of commandments. ☜
(To be continued. Information for this article was taken from the December 1961 Good News Magazine, published by
Ambassador College).
We encourage you to read the original article, titled, “Is Judaism the Law of Moses?”