Pharisee for Dummies

Pharisee is a word that has its roots in ancient times, specifically during the time of Jesus. You see, back then, there were different religious groups in society, and the Pharisees were one of them. They were a group of people who followed a very strict set of religious rules and regulations. Think of them as the "rulekeepers" of their time. They believed in living a righteous and holy life, and they made sure to meticulously follow all the religious laws.

Now, let's break it down a bit further. The word "Pharisee" can also refer to a person who pretends to be very religious or virtuous on the surface, but in reality, they may not be truly sincere or genuine in their beliefs and actions. So, it can have a negative connotation as well.

To help you understand even better, let me give you an analogy. Imagine you have a friend who always brings their backpack to class and says they are very organized. They constantly tell you that they have all the supplies they need and are always prepared. However, when you look inside their backpack, you find that it's actually quite messy and disorganized. They may be pretending to be prepared and organized, but in reality, they are not living up to their claims. Similarly, a Pharisee may appear to be very religious and devout, but their actions may not align with their words.

So, to sum it up, a Pharisee can mean both a group of religious rulekeepers from ancient times and a person who pretends to be virtuous but may not truly be sincere in their beliefs. It's important to remember that not everyone who follows rules or appears to be religious falls into the negative connotation; it depends on their sincerity and authenticity.