[slimer]

Doing a "good deed" for another human, a "mitzvah" in Hebrew, was accorded a status that in some ways, surpassed Temple worship. This was truly a revolution in religious thinking.

Trying to earn ones way into heaven was hardly a revolutionary or new idea. People have been trying to do this from the beginning of time.

[JMJ333]

I guess if you only look at that statement and then try to say that doing good deeds is the only reason for the author saying the pharisaical movement is revolutionary, you might see it that way. I took him to meant the previous 4 or 5 paragraphs also.

[malakhi]

Trying to earn ones way into heaven was hardly a revolutionary or new idea. People have been trying to do this from the beginning of time.

Contrary to popular opinion, Jews do not perform mitzvot to try to earn our way into heaven. We do it it out of love and obedience to God and His Law.