BY PAUL N. JACKSON The Righteousness of the Scribes and the Pharisees

IS LISTENERS WERE People considered the scribes to be knowl- STUNNED. If the scribes and edgeable in all aspects of Jewish life. The HPharisees are disqualified, then who bookkeeping scribes meticulously calculated stands half a chance of making it? they silently that the law contained 248 commandments wondered. Jesus had just summarized the and 365 prohibitions they aspired to keep main section addressing the theme of righ- totally. The scribes, who were to be the teousness in the Sermon on the Mount: protectors of Judaism, “interpreted the law, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness taught it to disciples, and were experts in surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, cases where people were accused of breaking you will never enter the kingdom of heav- the law of Moses.”3 Most scribes identified en” (Matt. 5:20).1 Some listeners surely with the party of the Pharisees, but not all were puzzled, others taken aback. In try- scribes were Pharisees and vice-versa. ing to determine why Jesus targeted the The term “Pharisee” is derived from a scribes and Pharisees, we should under- Hebrew word that means either “separate” stand the two groups He lumped together or “interpret.”4 Historically, this group to teach this comparative lesson. emerged onto the scene of early Judaism dur- ing the time of the Hasmonean rulers (about Religious Expectations 145-63 B.C.). Josephus reported they func- The role of scribe predated the New tioned as advisors, interpreters, or guides for Testament era by centuries. The Old John Hyrcanus (ruled 135-105 B.C.) on mat- Testament mentions a scribe during the ters of Jewish law.5 While they were known time of the judges: “they that handle the as the “Separate Ones,” they also served pen of the writer” (Judg. 5:14, KJV, empha- as interpreters. Through careful observance sis added). At this stage the position was and interpretation of the law, they tried not an officially recognized religious role. to achieve separateness or exclusivity from By the postexilic period, however, the Gentiles and less religiously-observant Jews. task had developed into a more official A contemporary historian described the role. The Bible says of Ezra that he was a Pharisees as “the theological and moral “ready scribe in the law of Moses” (Ezra watchdogs of the covenant people.”6 They 7:6, KJV). Nehemiah, Ezra’s contempo- focused especially on issues of dietary laws,7 rary, described Zadok as being a scribe. ritual purity for meals, and observance of His role evidently also included leader- the Sabbath.8 The Pharisees also claimed ship duties in Jerusalem (Neh. 13:12-13). they were responsible for faithfully passing By Jesus’ day, scribes were “associated with Jerusalem and the other chief priests as LESSON REFERENCE part of the government of Judaism . . . [They]

Fall 2007 Fall BSFL: Matthew 5:13-20 functioned as high officials and advisors.”2 BI

16 KOHL SMITH(32/25/4) ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO animal. from akosher ment thatcomes ten onaparch- The textiswrit- lines ofwriting. to contain42 allows thepage at eachend.This 2 verticallines parchment and zontal linesinthe scratches 43hori- work, thescribe beginning his letter. Before Torah count each who copythe count” asthose meaning “to a Hebrew word Sofer comesfrom in MountZion. sofer) working scribe(or Modern / LOUISE 17 BI Fall 2007 18 BI Fall 2007 seven types of“extremist” Pharisees. Union College inCincinnati 1903-1921, referred to Kaufmann Kohler, whowas president ofHebrew recorded intheBookofActs are any indication. Shammaite, ifhisviolentactionstoward Christians Interestingly, theApostle Paul may have beena conflicts withthesehard-liners thanany othergroup. more rigidandintractable. Jesus probably hadmore and more lenient,thehouseofShammaiwas much tolerance levels. WhiletheHillelhousewas softer including two basicschoolsofinterpretation and were trulyvirtuousandgood.” became fussily self-righteous, many amongthem intent onobedience to thelaw that they often many ofthePhariseeswere sointrospectively probably at “Although eachend ofthespectrum. seem to interpret thelaws more accurately.” of theJews that appearmore religious thanothers, and Josephus observed that thePharisees“are acertain sect on theoral traditions given to MosesonMountSinai. 7. 7. 6.The “God-fearing” Pharisee,who, like Job, 5. The “ever-reckoning” Pharisee, whowas 4. “shoulder” The 1. . The 3. The“wait-a-little” Pharisee,whowould ask 2. As withany religious group, afaithful andsin Kohler’s list reminds usthat Phariseeswere Evidently, various kindsofPhariseesexisted, head rather thanobserve alluring temptations. was trulyrighteous. offset hisfailures. always countinghisgood deedsto seeifthey The “God-loving” Pharisee,like Abraham. T to avoid seeingawoman. by walking into awall because heshut hiseyes a good deed. someone to wait for himwhileheperformed shoulder. good deedsbefore menlike abadgeonthe he “pestle”Phariseewhowalked withhanging “ blind” Pharisee, who bruised himself blind” Pharisee,whobruisedhimself

Pharisee, whoparaded his 11

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track ofhow onemeasured uponadailybasis. of righteousness required anopenscorecard that kept precise rulingsonvarious religious issues. Thisbrand the Torah scholars thePhariseesconferred withfor develop, teach, andapplythelaw. Thescribeswere the lawyer-like experts whosethreefold taskwas to most famous doers ofthelaw, andthescribeswere Judaism inthefirst century. ThePhariseeswere the were responsible for settingthereligious standards for and embracing thereality ofthefirst Beatitude: teousness isguaranteed, however, by realizing mands andrequirements externally. True righ- by strenuously tryingto maintain various com- whose personal righteousness isnever guaranteed score card; itwas instead amatter oftheheart. therefore, was notonethat could betallied ona (Matt. 5:21-26).Therighteousness Jesus upheld, or anenemy without ever usingaphysical weapon teaching isthat aperson canassassinate afriend identified theroot ofmurder—anger! Sotheclear an extremist Jesus Pharisee,‘Donotmurder’?” relate to Exodus 20:13andto theinterpretation of so many words, “OK, how doesthisnew teaching make thepoint.InthissectionJesus was saying in ning illustrations. Oneexample willsatisfactorily the meaningofMatthew 5:20by offering sixstun- for deeperobedience. SoHeproceeded to illustrate important thanoutward performance. Heart functionorcondition isvastly more the needto outscor e thescribesandPharisees. kind rather thanindegree. Jesus was notteaching hand, exceeds pharisaicorscribalrighteousness in The righteousness Jesus referred to, ontheother Jesus’ Expectations only to thepractitioners ofthelaw. “letter ofthelaw.” For God’s them, grace came legalists ferociously andheartlessly enforced the strand existed, butthelargest percentage ofthese Thus thesetwo groups, thescribesandPharisees, Summarily, we are all needy andsinfulpeople Jesus didnotaskfor more obedience—He asked COREL PHOTO ing inuseduring a silverTorah cas- Right: Jerusalem, covenant. to remember the call worshipers on thecovers images andtexts and worship.The of Jewishlife important part Torah remains an Reading the Synagogue. Jerusalem at thegreat Torah covers Left: Colorful a phylacteries. He wearsthe the Torah. scroll orthelaw, containing the the heavycasing carry byhimself The boymust son ofthelaw. as a It recognizes him and responsibility. of religious duty ning oftheage day–the begin- his 13thbirth- who hasreached celebrating aboy Bar Mitzvah bar mitzvah , , deceptive self-righteousness (vv. 13-16). rify God,notto drive peopleaway from Godby will causepeopleto beattracted to andto glo- salt andlightinafallen and darkened world and believers’ goodworks willfunctionspiritually as demned becauseoftheir self-righteousness. True and executioners walked away corrected andcon- but notcondemned.Conversely, herjudges, jury, all was saidanddone,thewoman stood corrected woman inJohn 7:53–8:11, for example, isthat once irony inastory suchasJesus andtheadulteress not beaccomplished;itmustprovided. So the This isinternal orheartrighteousness. Itcan- in otherwords, one’s utter dependenceonGod. acknowledging one’s absolute spiritualpoverty, surpasses that ofthescribesandPhariseesisby of heaven istheirs” (v. 3).Sotheway righteousness “Blessed are the poorinspirit,becausekingdom ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO i Archie England,gen.eds. Eerdmans PublishingCompany, 1985),106. the Hebrew byMerrillC.Tenney, Studies, Union University, Jackson, Tennessee. Paul N. Jackson isassociate professor ofChristian (Peabody, MA:HendricksonPublishers,1987),1.v.2 (p.551). Freedman, ed.,vol.5(NewYork: Doubleday, 1992),1015. Standard Bible. 2 (NewYork: SimonandSchusterMacmillan,1996), 478-479. 450 B.C.E.to600C.E., and someofthescribesinMark7:1-23. Press, 1999),137. Hendrickson Publishers,1987),13.10.5-6(p.354-355). Rapids: BakerAcademic,2001),45. 11. Ibid. 10. KaufmannKohler, “Pharisee”in 9. Josephus, 3. “Scribe”in 2. AnthonyJ.Saldarini,“Scribes”in 1. Unlessotherwisenotedallbiblicalquotationsare from theHolmanChristian 8. Foragooddiscussionofthese,see 7. ThisiswhyJesusandHisdisciplesdrew suchsharpcriticism from thePharisees 6. PaulBarnett, 4. BenWitheringtonIII, 5. Josephus, / KEN TOUCHTON (3/5/13)

The Wars oftheJews,TheWorks ofJosephus, The AntiquitiesoftheJews, Holman IllustratedBibleDictionary Jesus andtheRiseofEarlyChristianity Jacob Neusner, ed.inchief,andWilliamScottGreen, ed.,vol. (Nashville: HolmanReference, 2003),1452.

ILLUSTRATOR PHOTO/ KEN TOUCHTON (3/5/18) New Testament History:ANarrativeAccount and festivals,but prayers morning at to beworn required were century B.C.They dating tothe2nd of Jewishdress from atradition ies, whichcome wears phylacter- Jerusalem. He Western Wall at praying atthe gentleman Above: Jewish New Testament Survey Jewish Encyclopedia, DictionaryofJudaismintheBiblicalPeriod, The AnchorBibleDictionary William Whiston,trans.(Peabody, MA: , Chad Brand,CharlesDraper, and , rev. (GrandRapids:WilliamB. (DownersGrove: InterVarsity IX,661-666,quotedfrom the loop. either sideof long strapson loop, formingtwo leather strapbya a longsingle are attachedto Scriptures, which Old Testament containing four (parchment) case black leather frontlet, isasmall A phylactery, or not onSabbaths.

William Whiston,trans. , DavidNoel (Grand 19 BI Fall 2007