GOSPEL READING: MATTHEW 5: 20-26
Pharisees form a sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile (587-535 B.C). In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They strongly upheld the theocracy and their country’s cause, and possessed great influence with the common people. They were bitter enemies of Jesus and his cause.
Scribe is a man learned in the Mosaic Law and in the sacred writings and he is an interpreter, teacher. Scribes examined the more difficult and subtle questions of the law and added to the Mosaic Law decisions of various kinds thought to elucidate its meaning and scope, and did this to the detriment of religion.
Jesus was against the external practices which were only for a show and he was against the teaching that led the poor people away from the religion and that was the reason that he said beware of the Scribes and the Pharisees. Instead he asked the people to go more into the internals of the law: reconciliation, brotherhood etc.
பரிசேயர் வெளி அடையாளங்களுக்கு முக்கியத்துவம் கொடுத்தனர். மறைநூல் அறிஞர் சட்டங்களின் விளக்கங்களில் மதத்தை மறந்தனர். இயேசு சட்டங்களின் உட்பொருளை உணர்ந்து வாழச்சொல்லுகிறார். உட்பொருள்: நல்லுறவு> உடன்பாடு> சகோதரத்துவம் போன்றவை.
