What is the difference between the priests and the Levites, versus the Pharisees, sadducees, and scribes?

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stonesoffire

Poetic Member
Nov 24, 2013
10,665
1,829
113
#1
Was doing a study in John, and this question rose up in my own mind. Is it possible that the spirit of these groups may exist today? What would the influence of these be?

Or would you deny this could be?
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,312
3,618
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#3
I was recently called a Pharisee because I believe it's good to be educated in the things of God and especially God's word. The gist of the comment was, "I have a better relationship with God because I don't need to be educated like the hypocritical Pharisees. They were educated and they thought they were better than the regular people."

The problem with the Pharisees wasn't that they were educated, but that they were educated in the their own traditions and not the things of God. The Pharisees were fairly uninformed and ignorant when it came to the written law.

So yeah, I believe the Pharisee spirit is alive and well, but it's not always lurking in the places one might think. ;)
 

studentoftheword

Well-known member
Nov 12, 2021
1,717
596
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#4
The pharisees are what is called False Christians in scripture and Jesus made no bones about telling them straight up that they were ---Jesus said they were whitewashed on the outside but defiled on the inside ----

-and so ----The Spirit of the Pharisees is very much alive and well today in my view --There are many who use the name Christian but are not true Christians -----they are as the Scripture says trying to whitewashing themselves with all their good deeds but are defiled on the inside ----

Many Ministers preaching today are like the Pharisees ----
 

RolloTamasi

Active member
Nov 10, 2021
241
82
28
#5
Priests and Levites no longer exist anymore in the Jewish faith, whereas Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes are alive and well in most Christian churches today.

 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
25,472
13,784
113
#6
"Spirit of these groups"? If you mean attitude, certainly there are those about with attitudes like those of the Pharisees: that others should live up to their particular interpretations of Scripture. The interpretations are typically moralistic if not legalistic, and more concerned with judgment and exclusivity than with the grace of God.
 

ResidentAlien

Well-known member
Apr 21, 2021
8,312
3,618
113
#7
Was doing a study in John, and this question rose up in my own mind. Is it possible that the spirit of these groups may exist today? What would the influence of these be?

Or would you deny this could be?
It's interesting to note that though there were significant differences between all these groups, the Lord condemned all of them.

Despite their differences they had one thing in common: they were the religious elite of their day. They may have had their differences, but they agreed on one thing: Jesus had to go.

It's not that different today. The religious elite are those involved in megachurchianity. All the so-called authorities who publish books and host conferences. The musicians are the Pied Pipers who draw the crowds. Megachurches can be found of all stripes and beliefs, but they all have two thing in common: 1) We must never preach the true gospel; and 2) We're the product, everyone else are the consumers.
 
O

Omegatime

Guest
#8
Pharisees were the largest jewish sect that observed the written law strictly and member of the Sanhedrin.

Sadducees was a member of a small jewish sect, a member of the Sanhedrin but distinguished themselves by not believing in a resurrection.

Scribes would be the lawyers of our day to understand scriptures being a jurist and copying scrolls

Levites came only from the tribe of Levi and performed religious duties at the temple