The Scribes and Pharisees

Abstract

The Gospels tell us with the utmost clarity that during the time of the Lord Christ's earthly activity the most bitter and implacable opponents of Him were the scribes and Pharisees. With the same clarity they tell us what position they occupied among the Jewish people at this time: they sat on the seat of Moses. As Moses had once been the leader of the Jewish people, led them out of the land of Egypt, organized their religious, moral and social life, and then carefully controlled it, so exactly the role the scribes and Pharisees now played. They were the leaders of the Jewish people, who also carefully and relentlessly controlled their religious and social life.