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[[File:00 159 143 PS2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''The Pharisees and the Saduccees Come to Tempt Jesus''; watercolor painting by French artist James Tissot (1836-1902)]]

[[File:00 159 143 PS2.jpg|right|300px|thumb|''The Pharisees and the Saduccees Come to Tempt Jesus''; watercolor painting by French artist James Tissot (1836-1902)]]

The '''Pharisees''' were [[liberal]] intellectuals at the time of Jesus, who opposed His logic and insistently twisted [[Bible|Biblical]] law to defend their authority.  They rejected anything that was not based in authority, and defined themselves to be the sole authority.  The modern-day equivalent to the Pharisees is adherence to [[Hearsay society|hearsay based on liberal authorities]].

The '''Pharisees''' were [[liberal]] intellectuals at the time of Jesus, who opposed His logic and insisted on their interpretation of [[Bible|Biblical]] law to defend their authority.  They rejected anything that was not based in authority, and defined themselves as the sole authority.  The modern-day equivalent to the Pharisees is adherence to [[Hearsay society|hearsay based on liberal authorities]].

The Pharisees opposed the priestly [[Sadducees]] who were not as great in number, but had political power.  The term "Pharisees" derives from "Perisha" (the singular of "Perishaya"), which means "one who separates himself."  In a religious sense it meant a group that separates itself from impure persons and things in seeking a higher level of holiness as desired by [[God]].

The Pharisees opposed the priestly [[Sadducees]] who were not as great in number, but had political power then due to their alignment with the [[Roman Empire]] officials; the Sadducees lost power when the [[Second Temple]] was destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D.  The term "Pharisees" derives from "Perisha" (the singular of "Perishaya"), which means "one who separates himself."  In a religious sense it meant a group that separates itself from impure persons and things in seeking a higher level of holiness as desired by [[God]].

At times [[Jesus]] was very critical of the Pharisees, as observed in the [[Gospels]].

At times [[Jesus]] was very critical of the Pharisees, as observed in the [[Gospels]].