Were the Pharisees really the bad guys? | The Real World of the Gospels, pt. 3

Were the Pharisees really the bad guys? | The Real World of the Gospels, pt. 3

From Bible in Life by John Whittaker

May 14, 2026 · 28 min · Episode 388

About this episode

This episode explores the true nature of the Pharisees and challenges the common perception of them as the 'bad guys' in the Gospels.

Were the Pharisees really the bad guys? Who were the Pharisees? Ask that question in a Bible study at pretty much any church and you’re likely to hear answers like: “Hypocrites.” “Legalists” “Self-righteous religious leaders who opposed Jesus.” In short, the Pharisees are the “bad guys.” In Christian circles to describe someone as a “pharisee” is no compliment. It’s usually a way of criticizing them for being self-righteous and legalistic. But all of this paints a caricature of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. So, who were the Pharisees, really? Free 30 Page eBook to help you Hear and Heed the Bible: https://www.johnwhittaker.net Support this ministry: Set up a recurring monthly or a one-time donation at the link below. http://worldfamilymissions.org/john-whittaker/ The Listener’s Commentary - In-depth teaching through books of the Bible to help you learn the Bible for yourself: https://www.listenerscommentary.com Connect with John: Social Media- connect on facebook and instagram Email - john@johnwhittaker.net If you've been helped by this teaching leave a review and share freely - on Facebook, Instagram, X, via email.

People in this episode

Host: John Whittaker

Topics covered

  • Pharisees
  • Christianity
  • Bible study
  • Jesus
  • religious leaders

Keywords

  • Pharisees
  • bad guys
  • Bible study
  • self-righteous
  • legalism
  • Jesus
  • Christianity

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: World Family Missions, Listener’s Commentary

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