If The Pharasaical Shoe Fits . . .

Stay with me on this until the end. This information is important in order to make my point.

The word Pharisees (lat. pharisælus, -i) comes from the Hebrew פרושים perushim from פרוש parush, meaning "separated." (Ernest Klein - Comprehensive Etymological Dictionary of the Hebrew Language)

There are two major characteristics of the Pharisees, their meticulous observance of obligations under the Law for purity, tithing, and Sabbath observances; and their emphasis on oral law as equally binding to the Law. (Edersheim, Life and Times, I:311-12)

The New Testament witnesses to their great concern over tithing and purity in Matthew 23:23-26 and Luke 11:39-42; and the many disputes Jesus had with the Jews over the Sabbath day reflects their concern for that law as well. Rabbinic literature also preserves such descriptions of the pious Jews: In Demai 2:2-3 and Hagigah 2:5-6 the dual obligations of purity and tithing are mentioned together; and Taharoth 4:12 stresses the "cleanness of Pharisees," whereas Niddah 4:2 scorns the Sadducees as being lax with regard to purity.

In the process of multiplying rulings it was easy for the Pharisees to become hypocritical because in attempting to be faithful to the letter of the Law they lost the spirit of the Law. The hypocrisy of the Pharisees was well known; Edersheim says that some of the sayings in the Rabbinical literature on this are more withering that those in the New Testament.37 So Jesus warned His disciples to beware of the teachings of the Pharisees (Mt. 16:12), or the leaven of the Pharisees (Lk. 12:1); He also rebuked their hypocrisy (Mt. 23).

But they most easily exhibit the excesses and errors of Pharisaism as well. Perhaps this is simply the lot of those in any age who believe that they have the truth. They often ascribe a great deal of authority to the teachings they receive on the Bible, even to the point of elevating application to the level of interpretation, so that those who do not comply with the Word of God as they understand may be considered disobedient.

So, here's what a Pharisee looks like:

1. He is very zealous about keeping biblical laws.
2. He has little or nothing to do with other people or groups who don't share his passion for purity through keeping rules. He is proud to be a Separatist.
3. He is proud about keeping some behavioral practices that aren't even in the Bible.
4. In order of importance to him are clean living (as he defines it), tithing and sabbath day observances (church activity).
5. He can't stand those compromising Sadducees, who obviously don't have a clue about the pure truth of God's Word.
6. He elevates not only the Bible, but his own interpretation of the Bible so that those who don't share his views or live according to what he thinks the Bible means are vilified by his group.

Hmm... a Pharisee. Think they're extinct today?

The information in this article above the list came from this source: http://bible.org/seriespage/pharisees#P54_15117)