Reading articles about the Pharisees, I discovered a lot of new and informative information that I didn't know before. So, by reading these articles I learned many new things about the Pharisees. For example, the word Pharisee means “pure” or “separated,” and the term known as Pharisees was used for a group of Jewish men who distanced themselves from ungodly or unrighteous men. In doing so, they established their own set of rules and commandments to restore their connection to holiness. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The Pharisees believed in another law besides those established by Moses, which was called the oral law. They believed they were called to be the teachers of the “oral law” they invented because only the Pharisees believed that the law should be taught orally. The Pharisees had many rules and many different things that they believed. To begin with, some of them stated that God controls all things, but the decisions made by individuals also affect their lives. Furthermore, they believed that the spiritual realm, including angels and demons, was real. They also believed that there was an afterlife, with rewards and punishments appropriate based on the individual. And they also believed in the idea that there would be a resurrection of the dead. Although these rules establish differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees, they set them aside to aid and achieve the death of Christ. The Pharisees are often seen as opponents of God and in the Bible they come across as very hypocritical people. An example of this can be found when Jesus says in Matthew 23:3, “They do not practice what they preach.” This meant that although they thought they continued to please God because they followed and observed certain laws, this was not enough for God. As it says in Matthew, they did not keep the most important part of the laws which was to be faithful, to have mercy, and to have justice for others and not just for themselves. By entering this brotherhood, they did so by promising before 3 men who were witnesses that they would spend the rest of their lives observing and practicing every detail of their laws. In conclusion, the Pharisees were the biggest accusers of Jesus and regarded as religious conservatives. They rejected His claims of being the Messiah, accused Jesus of doing things He had never done, including being accused of practicing demonic things, and plotted to kill Him. They did all this because of the values ​​that the Pharisees believed were right. Jesus' greatest criticisms in the Bible were aimed at the Pharisees, and even after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension, the Pharisees still found a way to mistreat his disciples. Now that I have fully understood and learned the way and life of the Pharisees, I can use it to better connect the story of Luke 7:36-50 and how the Pharisees would react to the story of one of them, Simon, and why he did what he did in this story. This story is unusual because it can be difficult to understand if you just take a look and don't know the background of the Pharisees and Jesus. Simon the Pharisee was confused as to why Jesus, a holy man and one above all, he would have let a sinful woman touch him like she did. Simon was very skeptical and you can see that from the beginning of the story. Even though he was trying to believe in Jesus, he couldn't open his mind, which is something many of us struggle with. The sinful woman knew Jesus and knew about his forgiveness and healing of others, she also knew that Simon would not be happy to see a sinner in his house because of the laws he obeyed. The woman was fascinated by Jesus and wanted to demonstrate her love for him by crying, wiping, cleaning and kissing his feet. This act thateveryone seeing that dinner was very shocking and scandalous, especially for Simon the Pharisee. Simon judged both Jesus and the sinful women for their actions, he knew Jesus because he was a teacher and now he wasn't sure if Jesus was who he claimed to be by what he let this woman do. It wasn't so much the act of touching Jesus that upset Simon, it just bothered him that he would allow someone so sinful and wicked to touch him. He couldn't believe it. But Jesus then shared a story with Simon, and this story fascinated Simon until he told him that the women washed his feet, kissed them, and poured perfume on them. He asks Simone, did you do any of this for me? Jesus compared Simon's acts as a dinner guest to the acts of love of a sinful woman. Through this story we can see that Jesus and Simon the Pharisee, like many other Pharisees, do not share the same views and teachings on life. Simon may have thought his opinions and views were wrong because Jesus forgave the sins of the sinful women right there in front of Simon in his house. Simon questioned his judgment and how he could forgive someone so easily who didn't even know it. Knowing that Simon was a Pharisee helps us come to the conclusion that he probably believed that Jesus did not have the power to forgive sins because he was only a teacher and they believed that God himself was the only one capable of doing so. Jesus and Simon the Pharisee clearly have very different points of view, they did their best in this story not to be influenced too much. It was a big deal because he was at Simon's house and he felt disrespected by Jesus and the sinful woman. Simon was confused and torn between what to believe because of what his beliefs had told him. These readings about the Pharisees and Jesus made it clearer to me how they both viewed each other, and especially Jesus' feelings toward the Pharisees and how they treated him. The way Jesus taught things and how powerful and holy and mighty He was was probably very difficult for the Pharisees to understand based on their beliefs and rules. In conclusion, delving into the articles about the Pharisees provided me with a deeper understanding of their beliefs, practices, and interactions with Jesus. Through these readings, I learned that the Pharisees were a group of Jewish men who sought purity and separation from what that they considered impious or unjust. They developed their own set of rules and commandments, including an oral law, which they believed was essential to restoring holiness and connection with God. Despite their efforts to uphold religious standards, the Pharisees often found themselves at odds with Jesus, who challenged their interpretations. and practices. Jesus criticized them for their hypocrisy, emphasizing the importance of mercy, justice, and faithfulness over outward displays of religious observance. The Pharisees, in turn, rejected Jesus' claims and ultimately played a role in his persecution and crucifixion. The story of Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman in Luke 7:36-50 offers insight into the tensions between Jesus and the Pharisees. Simon's skepticism and judgment toward Jesus and the woman reflect the clash of beliefs and values ​​between the Pharisees and Jesus. Despite their differences, Jesus used the encounter to challenge Simon's perspective and demonstrate the power of forgiveness and of love. Please note: this is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Through these readings, I have gained a deeper appreciation for the complexity of the relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees. It is clear that their opinions differ on the.