The Pharisees were leaders and authorities of the organized religion that claimed the Bible (Old Testament only at that time) as its authority. The pharisees today are the leaders and authorities of those orgaized religions and denominations that claim the Bible is their authority generally known as Christian. Today, the religious leaders and authorities do not call themselves Pharisees, they call themselves priests, pastors, ministers, bishops, theologians, etc.
It was organized religion that demanded adherence to the traditions and teaching of earlier authorities, just as it does today. It was always the Pharisees that quoted scripture to back up their man-made laws, rituals, and practices, just as it is today. The Pharisees always claim they are God's authority on earth. If Christ should be born today, to live and walk among men, our organized religions would seek to kill him, just as it did before.
Ask any of these religious leaders why Jesus came. He may bable something about saving men, or saving men from sin. If they really know the Bible they may quote Paul, (1 Tim. 1:15) "This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."
None will quote what Jesus Himself said His purpose for being born in the world was: John 18:37 "...Jesus answered, ... to this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice."
Most today confuse the voice of some donominational authority, church leader, or the Pope for the voice of Jesus Christ.
Jesus never came to form an organized religion, which is always the enemy of truth.
Hank
Most today confuse the voice of some donominational authority, church leader, or the Pope for the voice of Jesus Christ.
What most people seem to forget is that first and foremost, Christianity is a PERSONAL relationship with Jesus, not a "corporate" relationship. If you don't have the personal part together, none of the rest of it means anything. Miost people are content to worship Jesus from afar. They don't want to get too close, because it might cost them something. "He who comes to God must first believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him." You can't diligently seek God from a distance. If you expect to receive from God, you must draw near to Him. Those who are near to God aren't the ones who go around trying to run everyone else's lives (Pharisees), because if you are near to God, His nature begins to be manifested in you, and God doesn't try to micro-manage people. I don't care how close someone claims to be to God, if they don't manifest His nature and His love, they are far away from Him.