Pharisaical: A definition

A.Word.A.Day with thanks to Anu Garg

pharisaical

PRONUNCIATION: (far-uh-SAY-uh-kuhl)

MEANING: adjective: Characterized by hypocritical self-righteousness; putting emphasis on strict observance of rituals unrelated to the spirit or meaning of the ceremony.

ETYMOLOGY: After the Pharisees, a Jewish sect during 1 BCE - 1 CE, whose members were noted for strict observance of rites and rituals, and felt superior because of it. The word is derived via Latin and Greek from Aramaic prishayya, plural of prish (separated).
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The Pharisees made Jesus more angry than any other sinners; more than tax collectors, more than adulterers, more than "real" criminals.
Why? They followed Him around, trying to catch Him in a lie, trying to catch Him sinning. When He acted with compassion toward the blind, the crippled and the sick, they took him to task for doing it on the Sabbath... the wrong day of the week. (Mark 2)
Who were they? They were the "good guys," the "white hats." They did everything right. They were the religious leaders of the day.

Do you know any Pharisees? Anyone who declares loudly that their way is right, and maybe even that anyone who disagrees is going to hell? It's tempting to believe them; their answers seem simple, and they seem so sure of themselves: "Just do all the right things, exactly the right way, and you'll get into heaven; just like me." Whoops! What happened to "for all have sinned..."? (Romans 3:23) What happened to GRACE? (Romans 11:16)

Jesus said to the Pharisees, "You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel." Matthew 23:24

Don't follow the Pharisees. Follow Jesus.

Peace, Love, Discernment