The Pharisees were a prominent religious-political party during New Testament times. Their name means “separated ones.” They separated themselves from society to study and teach the law, but they also considered common people religiously unclean. The Pharisees emphasized oral tradition alongside written Law, and their system of religion focused more on outward form than genuine faith. Jesus often clashed with them, exposing their hypocrisy and unreasonable burdens on the people. They held seats in the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, and were teachers and pastors. Ultimately, they rejected Jesus as the Messiah and plotted to have Him killed.