In Jesus’ time, the population of Jerusalem was about sixty thousands and there were six thousand Pharisees. Most Pharisees were ordinary people, like, carpenters, craftsmen, farmers, merchants. Of course some of them were priests or scribes. They had their own leaders who mostly were scribes. They had regular meetings and meals. These meetings were mostly held on the night before the Sabbath (Friday).

The Pharisees were very strict about the tithes (the offering of one tenth of all their possessions). Even at the market place, if they had any doubt that the merchant from whom they bought some items, had not offered the one tenth to the priest, they would add an extra one tenth of the value of the item bought and offered to the priest.

The admission into a community of Pharisees was very strict. Normally the candidate had to pass a probation period during which the candidate had to prove he could observe the rules of the community. The washing of hands before a meal was considered a rule that had to be kept absolutely. Anyone who had happened to come in contact with an impure animal like a camel, rabbit, pig, the blood, the dead body or faeces, would automatically be considered impure and had to go through a special purification ritual before participating in any form of worship.

The Pharisees looked down upon all those who did not observe the law and upon all Gentiles. Tax collectors, prostitutes , gamblers and money-lenders were all considered public sinners. Pharisees thought that some sins such as murder, adultery, heresy and disrespect of the law could never be forgiven. They encouraged people to observe the law very strictly in order to avoid any punishment from God for breaking the law unconsciously. Jesus’ thinking on such strict adherence to the Law: “They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them”. (Matthew 23:4） On conceited teachers: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? (Luke 6:39） On uncleanness: “It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one”. (Matthew 15:11）

As for the rewards, Jesus believed that man’s relationship with God was not based on man’s merits, but only on God’s mercy. The reward is not the fruit of man’ labour (one reaps what one sowed), but the gift of God’ benevolence. Man must have faith in God : “And whoever gives only a cup of cold water to one of these little ones to drink because he is a disciple—amen, I say to you, he will surely not lose his reward.” (Matthew 10: 42）。 Jesus said: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22: 37-40）