Part 12

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=100 BGCOLOR="#CCCCFF" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04000640egdysm.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Church of God, In Truth</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT><B>   |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church of God, In Truth"><B>home</B></A><B> | </B><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism Study Series"><B>Up Level</B></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id421.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Study: Judaism, the Jews religion">Bible Study: "Judaism", the Jews' religion</A>   |   <A HREF="id192.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions to ask">Questions to ask</A>   |   <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 1">Part 1</A>   |   <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 2">Part 2</A>   |   <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 3">Part 3</A>   |   <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 4">Part 4</A>   |   <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 5">Part 5</A>   |   <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 6">Part 6</A>   |   <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 7">Part 7</A>   |   <A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 8">Part 8</A>   |   <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 9">Part 9</A>   |   <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 10">Part 10</A>   |   <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 11">Part 11</A>   |   Part 12   |   <A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 13">Part 13</A>   |   <A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 14">Part 14</A>   |   <A HREF="id425.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism">A brief history of Judaism</A>   |   <A HREF="id426.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Is Judaism the Religion of the Old Testa">Is Judaism the Religion of the Old Testament?</A>   |   <A HREF="id435.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 2">A brief history of Judaism - Part 2</A>   |   <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism__.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 3">A brief history of Judaism - Part 3</A>   |   <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism_p.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 4">A brief history of Judaism Part 4</A>   |   <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism__1cf.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 5">A brief history of Judaism - Part 5</A>   |   <A HREF="part_6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 6">Part 6</A>   |   <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism__1de.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 7">A brief history of Judaism - Part 7</A>   |   <A HREF="judaism_part_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 8">A brief history of Judaism Part 8</A>   |   <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism__1ed.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 9">A brief history of Judaism - Part 9</A>   |   <A HREF="part_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 10">Part 10</A>   |   <A HREF="part_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 11">Part 11</A>   |   <A HREF="judaism_part_13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism Part 13">Judaism Part 13</A></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#0000BF" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <B>Church of God, In Truth</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id421.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Study: Judaism, the Jews religion">Bible Study: "Judaism", the Jews' religion</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id192.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Questions to ask">Questions to ask</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id79.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 1">Part 1</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id80.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 2">Part 2</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id81.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 3">Part 3</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id82.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 4">Part 4</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id83.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 5">Part 5</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id84.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 6">Part 6</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id85.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 7">Part 7</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id86.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 8">Part 8</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id87.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 9">Part 9</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id88.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 10">Part 10</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id89.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 11">Part 11</A></div> <div> <B>Part 12</B></div> <div> <A HREF="id91.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 13">Part 13</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id92.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 14">Part 14</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id425.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism">A brief history of Judaism</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id426.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Is Judaism the Religion of the Old Testa">Is Judaism the Religion of the Old Testament?</A></div> <div> <A HREF="id435.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 2">A brief history of Judaism - Part 2</A></div> <div> <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism__.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 3">A brief history of Judaism - Part 3</A></div> <div> <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism_p.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 4">A brief history of Judaism Part 4</A></div> <div> <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism__1cf.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 5">A brief history of Judaism - Part 5</A></div> <div> <A HREF="part_6.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 6">Part 6</A></div> <div> <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism__1de.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 7">A brief history of Judaism - Part 7</A></div> <div> <A HREF="judaism_part_8.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 8">A brief history of Judaism Part 8</A></div> <div> <A HREF="a_brief_history_of_judaism__1ed.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="A brief history of Judaism Part 9">A brief history of Judaism - Part 9</A></div> <div> <A HREF="part_10.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 10">Part 10</A></div> <div> <A HREF="part_11.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Part 11">Part 11</A></div> <div> <A HREF="judaism_part_13.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Judaism Part 13">Judaism Part 13</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=380 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Part 12</I></div> <bR> <div> Why were the Pharisees divided among themselves in New Testament times? Why did they come to Jesus to ask </div> <div> Him to settle disputes? </div> <div> Part 12 </div> <div> In previous articles of this series, it was shown how the Pharisees and other chief leaders of the Jews disregarded the Word of God. They had accepted customs that came directly from heathenism, which Scripture clearly commands us not to do! "Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them " (Jer. 10:1-2). </div> <div> In many cases they knowingly and willingly taught commandments that were completely contrary to the plain word of God. They even ADMITTED that in so doing they were leaving the teachings of Moses. The majority of these commandments of the Pharisees were enacted on the pretext that they had special divine revelatory powers from God to reveal to the Jews His present will. The Scriptures, to their reasoning, could not suffice alone for teaching the people!! </div> <div> The written Torah (the Old Testament) was good for the age in which it was given, or in which it was first read; but the written Torah alone "could not suffice for later ages" (Herford, Talmud and Apocrypha, pg. 113). This prevailing opinion of the Pharisaic teachers is manifest in modernism in Protestants today!! </div> <div> Pharisees make void God's Laws! The Pharisees were confronted time and time again with many Mosaic commandments which they considered impractical in the society in which they were living. This led them to dangerous conclusions. Since they were living in a later age than Moses and because times had changed considerably they felt that many of the Laws of the Scriptures had to be drastically altered or in some cases, completely annulled! The Pharisees saw no reason why such alteration or rescission should not be done, especially since they convinced themselves they were in authority to reveal the current will of God. </div> <div> Herford says "that these Pharisaic teachers came to the place many times of actually annulling an express command in the written Torah (the Scriptures) and replacing it by a halachah (their own law) in accordance with a (supposed) higher moral standard" (Talmud and Apocrypha, pg. 73). </div> <div> Jesus refers to one Law of God among many, that they completely set aside or annulled. Notice, </div> <div> Mark 7:10-13: "For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and MANY SUCH LIKE THINGS DO YE." In this case, they had actually annulled a specific one of the Ten Commandments of God that had been given through Moses at Mt. Sinai. They claimed to have given to God offerings that should have been used to help Father and Mother. </div> <div> We are left in no doubt about the attitude of the Pharisees in regard to Moses and his teachings. If they did not approve of what Moses taught, they rejected him! It was just that simple! Jesus said, "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?" (John 5:46-47). </div> <div> Actually, the Pharisees had come to the place of believing it impossible to keep the civil Law of Moses. The only thing they could do, they reasoned, was either to alter, or disregard, many of its "impractical" instructions. They had no hesitation in carrying out their intentions. </div> <div> "The teachers ..... were quite aware of the extreme gravity of the step they were taking, they intended to modify the written commandments in various ways, and in the course of time actually did so in NUMBERLESS CASES. Ye they had before them the plain injunction (Deu.4:2, "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you") (Herford, Talmud and Apocrypha, pg. 113). </div> <div> It is almost impossible to believe that religious leaders claiming to serve God would be so bold as to do such things, but the Pharisees intentionally did so. "This conclusion that the written word of the Torah might be modified or set aside, or even annulled (as sometimes done), was DELIBERATELY DRAWN AND CONSISTENTLY ACTED UPON by the teachers who developed the halachah (the new Pharisaic laws)" (ibid. Pg. 112). </div> <div> Do we wonder why Christ condemned the teaching of the Pharisees? Is it any wonder that Christ was so indignant at the doctrines of the Pharisees? Should we be amazed that He so sharply rebuked them? "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" (Mark 7:6-9). </div> <div> We have now seen the background of the Pharisees, and where their beliefs and attitudes came from regarding the Word of God. Scriptures of the New Testament take on much more meaning. We can understand why Jesus rebuked the Pharisees as they had never been rebuked before. "But He answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" (Matt. 15:3). Further He said, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity" (Matt. 23:27-28). Many Churches today follow the Pharisees! In many Churches of God we find thousands of individuals who are like the Pharisees of New Testament times. Many Churches of God and "Christian Churches" have modified the commandments of God (postponing God's Sabbaths and Holy Days). The Catholic and Protestant Churches postponed the Sabbath to Sunday and Judaism and most Churches of God postpone the annual Holy Days! (Church of God, In Truth). Many have disannulled the commandments of Christ. Yes, our modern Christian civilization of this Western World is in the same or worse spiritual condition as were the Pharisees! </div> <div> The past and present leaders of Christian churches have resorted to the same tactics as did the Pharisaic leaders. Modern Christianity has paralleled the Jewish leaders of New Testament time in assuming the prerogative of altering, overlooking and rescinding the plain commandments of the Scripture. Christ, who is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8), condemns it! Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition" ( Mark 7:7-9). </div> <div> Why Churches modify the Commandments of Christ? There are millions of individuals today who, like the Pharisees, claim to follow Christ, and yet have modified the plain and simple commandments of Christ. All readers of the Bible, scholars and laymen alike, are quite aware that the Sabbath is the day set aside by God for divine worship. "Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made. These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens" (Gen 2:1-4). Israel was given instructions on Mt. Sinai: "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work" ( Exo 20: 8-9). The Sabbath is from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. All true followers of God have kept this day as the day of rest and worship. The Jews of Christ's day as well were observing this day. Christ Himself, kept the true Sabbath, having ordained it at re-creation as a day for the benefit of all mankind. "And He said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath" (Mark 2:27-28). The early New Testament Church observed the Sabbath, and that day only, as the weekly day of rest and worship. This was the only day which the early Church observed: this all competent Church Histories affirm. </div> <div> There is no indication or even the slightest hint, in the Scripture that the Sabbath was to be abrogated and another day substituted for it. The Sabbath was set apart --sanctified--by the authority of God and no man has been given the authority to change God's Sabbaths--weekly or annual!! Most say the Sabbath is changed to Sunday. Yet Scripture clearly says Christ kept the Sabbath Day. Today, Christians modify God's Word as did the Pharisees of old! Millions of people today who claim to be following Christ and the Bible, who repudiate the plain command of God in regards to His Holy day-- the Sabbath, by observing another day. These people are not following the Bible commands but are rather following the command of the Roman Catholic Church which admits that it, not the bible, is the author of Sunday keeping! (See "Who Changed the Sabbath? Pg. 1-5, Published by Knights of Columbus, St. Louis, Mo.). </div> <div> The majority of professing Christians today assume the Sabbath command has been annulled. But it certainly has not been done away with in the Bible! It has only supposedly been annulled by the Roman Catholic Church and all the Protestant denominations which follow her decisions in this matter. </div> <div> Another example how Christian churches have disregarded Christ's teachings is found in the book of John. "If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you" (John 13:14-15). Very few people who call themselves Christian, follow Christ's example! Most people have completely disregarded the teachings of Christ and do not follow His examples as taught in the New Testament. Christ said, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matt. 28:19- 20). The majority of ministers are using the same reason for disregarding Scripture, (i.e. times have changed!) as did the Pharisees in Christ's day. </div> <div> Our Western World is doing today exactly the same thing the Pharisees did in New Testament times. It is about time we wake up and get back to the true faith which was once delivered to the saints of God. "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" (Jude 3). </div> <div> God's Church today does not add to His Words, neither does it subtract from them. It is in obedience to His commandments. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the </div> <div> truth is not in him" (I John 2:3-4). </div> <div> PHARISEES' COMMANDMENTS MORE BINDING THAN SCRIPTURE </div> <div> The Pharisees did not stop with merely modifying, disregarding or even annulling Scripture. "They maintained that the commandments they enacted in the place of Scripture were of more importance that the Scripture itself. The law of custom was quite as binding as the written Torah; nay it was even decided that opposition to the decrees of the Scribes was a heavier transgression than opposition to the decrees of the Torah" (The Jewish People in the Times of Christ, sec. ii, vol i, pg. 333, 334). </div> <div> Let's look at the Talmud and see some statements of some of the early Pharisees themselves. Their situation in regard to their own teachings will be obvious. From the Jerusalem Talmud, Berakoth i, 7, we read: "The sayings of the elders have more weight that those of the prophets." The elders, in this case is the Pharisees. In Sanhedrin xi, 3, it says: "An offense against the sayings of the Scribes is worse than one against those of the Scriptures." They demanded the people refer to them as spiritual "Father," "Rabbi," or "Master" (Makkoth 24s). Christ say in His Word: "And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ" (Matthew 23:7-10). </div> <div> "Today in some Churches of God, we see these groups calling Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong, their spiritual father! This is wrong!! This is not following the direct command of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Master! Can we disannul God written commands? (Church of God, In Truth)." This is no better then the Pharisees who taught the people must reverence them almost as God Himself. "Let thine esteem for thy friend border upon they respect for thy teacher, and respect for thy teacher on reverence for God" (Aboth, iv, 12). </div> <div> "Each scribe {learned Pharisee} out- weighted all the common people, who must accordingly pay him every honour. Nay, they were honoured of God Himself, and their praises proclaimed by the angels; and in heaven also, each of them would hold the same rank and distinction as on earth. Such was to be the respect paid to their says, that they were to absolute believed, even if they were to declare that to be at the right hand which was at the left, or vice versa (i.e. even if they proclaimed doctrines contradictory to Scripture)" (Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, Vol. i, pg. 90). </div> <div> Because of the religious authority that the Pharisees claimed they had, they in general demanded the first rank in all circumstances. "And (the Pharisees) love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi" (Matt. 23:6-7). The term "Rabbi"means, literally, "My Master." It denotes the personal ruler or leader of the people. </div> <div> Edersheim records an incident of two great Rabbis who were complaining because they had been greeted in the market place by the common greeting "May your peace be great" without the added "My Master" (Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, vol ii, pg. 409). "So weighty was the duty of respectful salutation by {Use of} the title Rabbi, that to neglect it would involve the heaviest punishment" (ibid. Vol. ii pg. 409). </div> <div> The unusual esteem accorded to the Pharisaic teachers is purely a product of Hellenistic influence. The Greeks maintained a high reverence for the scholars, teachers and men of wisdom. Titles of respect and reverential honor were used in the Greek schools for their teachers. The use of "Rabbi," "Master," "Father" and various other exalted titles of the Pharisees was certainly borrowed from the examples of the Greeks. A learned Jewish historian, Moses Hadas, admits that these various customs of the Rabbis "were parallel to Greek usages, and shall suggest that since they were introduced after the spread of Hellenism they might have been inspired by Greek practice. The extraordinary reverence paid to learning may be part and parcel of this same influence" (Hellenistic Culture, pg. 71). </div> <div> True Christian disciples are warned not to assume these exalted titles of "Rabbi, Father or Master." Such high, eminent titles of respect are deserved only by God. He is Master and LORD. He is the spiritual Father of the faithful. The Pharisees had no right to arrogate to themselves such titles, and neither does any minister. Today, however, the majority of Christian ministers are appropriating as a designation the very names that God says not to use. How many priest today are called "Father?" How many ministers use the title of "Reverend" which, in the Scripture, is used only as a designation of God. "He sent redemption unto His people: He hath commanded His covenant for ever: holy and reverend is His name" (Psa. 111:9). </div> <div> Before the birth of Christ, many of the Pharisees had formed themselves into institutions, or what became know as Schools, for the purpose of study and counsel concerning the legislation of new laws. Those who felt one particular way in regard to new legislation would assemble with other Pharisees who believed in a similar vein. The two major Schools of the Pharisees were the School of Hillel and the School of Shammai. The two founders of these Schools, Hillel and Shammai, gathered together other Pharisees who believed in many ways similar to themselves. Both these Schools issued new commandments in regard to religious worship. Both these Schools of the Pharisees contradict each other! "These two major Schools of the Pharisees were the rivals of one another. The points in which they disagreed were virtually innumerable" (Cyc. of Bib. Theo. And Ecc. Lit., vol ix, pg. 472). </div> <div> It has been supposed that the tendency of the Hillel School was to make the new commandments they enacted less burdensome, and that the Shammai School made commandments which were heavier and more burdensome. However, both Schools legislated many strict and burdensome commandments, over and above the requirements of Scripture, and Edersheim shows that the Hillel School was even more strict than the Shammai in some cases" (Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, vol. ii, pg. 407). </div> <div> The commandments of these two Schools covered practically every religious practice of the Jews. They made many ridiculous and overly burdensome commandments concerning the observance of the Sabbath. They enacted strict ritualistic laws regarding the washing of the hands, pots, pans, jars, etc. They also made numerous ritualistic regulations regarding the preparing and eating of foods. Their teachings extended to all phases of physical worship. </div> <div> It is ironic that these two Schools were both composed of Pharisees and yet their teachings, in so many cases, were totally at variance with one another. One School would bring out a new commandment regarding a particular religious rite or custom, and proclaim that the new commandment was mandatory for all pious Jews to perform. In consequence of this, the other School would issue a similar commandment, usually as a rebuttal and in most cases diametrically opposite from the other. "Controversy between these two groups extended over many topics and excited considerable warmth of feeling" (Herford, Judaism in the New Testament Period, pg. 160). </div> <div> As mentioned before: "The points on which they differed were almost innumerable" (Cyc. Of Bibl, Theo. And Ecc. Lit. Vol ix, pg. 472). Both of these Schools vied for absolute authority!! The controversies between these two major Pharisaic Schools were undoubtedly sparked by the desire of both of them to be the ultimate authority among the Pharisees. Edersheim says: "In truth, their differences seem too often prompted by a spirit of opposition, so that the serious business of religion became in their hands one of rival authority and mere wrangling" (Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, vol ii, pg. 407). </div> <div> This was the condition of the Pharisees just before and during the days of Christ! Like professing Christianity today, the Pharisees were in confusion over their own doctrines. Their continual arguing among themselves placed them in embarrassing positions among the people and the other religious sects. Yet, they continued their squabbles and controversies. "Many, very many of them (their controversies) are so utterly trivial and absurd that only the hairsplitting ingenuity of theologians can account for them: others so profane that it is difficult to understand how any religion could co-exist with them. Conceive, for example, two schools in controversy wither it was lawful to kill a louse on the Sabbath" (ibid., vol ii, pg. 407, note 4). </div> <div> The controversies between these two Schools were so numerous---and some so vulgar--that it is impractical to list them all. For any who may be interested in them, a list has been prepared by Schurer. See his book, "The Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, sec ii, vol i, pg. 361. </div> <div> You can imagine what the controversies between these two prominent Pharisaical Schools did to the faith of the people who were endeavoring to observe the teachings of the Schools. Who were the people to believe? Both Schools claimed to be speaking the words of God, and yet they violently disagreed with one another in almost every point!! These two Schools were not the only dissentious bodies among the Pharisees. "The Pharisees at this time were sharply divided into various sections which were not exhausted by the rival schools of Hillel and Shammai" (ABC, pg. 841). "The Pharisees were divided into many sects, and the doctrines of individual teachers were often contradictory...." (Condor, Judas Maccabaeus, pg. 205). </div> <div> It is important to realize that no real creed existed among the Pharisees. "The Pharisees were never a homogeneous body possessed of a definite policy or body of doctrines" (Encyclopedia Britannica, 11th Ed. Vol xxi, pg. 347). </div> <div> The differences of opinion among all the Pharisees arose with the making of new commandments, in the Second Century B.C. by Joseph ben Joezer, called "The Permitter." This reminds us of modern Christianity with all its differing doctrines and conflicting beliefs. Yet, each Church claims that it is preaching the truth of God and Christ!! </div> <div> Lauterbach records an attempt to reconcile the teachings of the Hillel and Shammai Schools and still show that both their teachings were the Words of God. He refers to a statement in the Talmud found in Erubin 13b. "A heavenly voice was heard declaring that both the words of the School of Hillel and the words of the School of Shammai (despite their disagreements, Lauterbach's note) are the words of the living God, but the practical decision should be according to the words of the School of Hillel" (Rabbinic Essays, pg. 243, note 78). The majority of the Pharisees favored the Hillel School more than any other, and this led to the conciliating parties leaning toward that particular School's teachings. </div> <div> In the Talmud, Gittin 6b, there is another reference, this time to a Jew named Elijah (not the prophet) who endeavored to reconcile the differences between two Pharisaic teachers. Elijah is reported "to have said that God declared BOTH the opposing views of Rabbi Abiathar and Rabbi Jonathan to be the words of the living God" (ibid., pg. 243, note 78). "All these utterances were intended to serve as a refutation of the attacks made against the teachings of the Rabbis (Pharisees) on account of their disagreements" (ibid, pg. 243, note 78). </div> <div> It was impossible for the Pharisees to directly admit that one or the other School was wrong (or as actually was the case, that both were wrong). They were forced to concede that both Schools conflicting teachings were from God!! What nonsense!!! </div> <div> The School of Hillel became the most important! The majority of the Pharisees followed the decisions of the Hillel School and this led to the complete ascendency of that School" (Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah, vol i pg. 239). It was not until the destruction of Jerusalem in 69 AD and the subsequent dispersal of the Jews from Palestine, that the Hillel School became the paramount teaching body. During the lifetime of Christ and the Apostle Paul, the Pharisees were still divided into the various Schools. But the destruction of Jerusalem, the Jews tended to solidify their schismatic groups. Many of the Jewish sects became extinct after the Roman destruction of Jerusalem and most of the Jews gravitated towards adhering to the Hillel School of interpretation. Orthodox Judaism today has for its basis the teachings of Pharisees who maintained the commandments and principles of the Hillel School. </div> <div> However, in the days just before and during the life of Christ, the Pharisees were still having their rivalries among themselves. They were teaching their manifold contradictory commandments from various Schools!! </div> <div> It is not difficult to understand why Christ condemned the Pharisees for rejecting the commandments of God and for "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." They had left the simple and plain Law which God had given them through Moses and had replaced it with their own set of commandments. </div> <div> (To be continued. Information for this article was taken from the December 1961 Good News Magazine, published by Ambassador College). </div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>