Was Jesus a Pharisee
Jewish Groups
During the days of Jesus, there were three main groups under the Hasmonean rule. The Pharisees, Sadducees and the Essenes . The Essenes were a sect that were exacerbated with the Pharisees and Sadducees. They moved out of Jerusalem and lived a nomadic life and did not have a role in scripture. The two sects that played a role during the days of Jesus were the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Jews of Jesus’ day belong to one of the two major sects of either the Pharisees or Sadducees and it is with these two sects that Jesus had dealings with in scripture. It is one of these two groups that Joseph and Mary belonged.
The Sadducees
The Sadducees were an liberal elite group that rejected the Oral Law. They did not believe in the resurrection, afterlife or angels.
Sadducees Ask About the Resurrection
The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, Matthew 22:23 (ESV)
They were one of the two “parties” that served in the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin were responsible for interpretation of Jewish civil and religious laws.
So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council (Sanhedrin)and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. John 11:47 (ESV)
The Pharisees
The Pharisees, however, held to the belief in a resurrection, an afterlife and angels. They also believed that God punished the wicked and rewarded the righteous in the afterlife as well believing in a Messiah who was to come. The social class of the Pharisees were common people while the Sadducees were the aristocrats.
The lives of the Jews centered around Judaism and the Temple. Mary and Joseph came from a working class family, common people. Joseph was visited by an angel, a belief not held by the Sadducees. Joseph was obedient to the angel.
But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21 (ESV)
Mary also was visited by an angel of the Lord and conversed with the angel.
And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and tried to discern what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”Luke 1:28-34 (ESV)
As all the Jews of that day, Joseph and Mary belonged the one of the Jewish groups. Mary and Joseph belonged to the group that held to the belief of angels, a coming Messiah, resurrection and an afterlife, the Pharisees. This is the group that Joseph and Mary belonged to and raised their children.
Historical Understanding
Why is this important? A historical background and a
n understanding of the times and culture aids in understanding the Word of God. The Word of God is not only His revelation but is a historical record as well. It was written during a time period and the men God inspired wrote from the perspective of that period to Jews of that period. It is important to understand the culture to properly interpret God’s word. We cannot read it from a 21st century western cultural perspective.
Jesus was a Jew, lived with Jews, brought the Gospel to the Jews, and spoke and taught them according to their culture. We need to understand the times and culture and read God’s revelation from that perspective and not from the 21st century American culture.
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Very well stated. But it would require extra work and study to do things this way. That doesn’t work in American Christianity. We like our God with an easy button.
Yeah, but the only thing I can do is post as I see truth. I am only responsible for my own walk.