I don't think anyone got into more confrontations with Jesus than the Pharisees. The gospels line up for us the many times they and their "cousins" (the Sadducees and the experts on the law) would oppose Jesus, and in those same accounts we also see Jesus oppose them.
But have you ever stopped to ask yourself why Jesus and the Pharisees just wouldn't get along? Nowadays, throwing the "Pharisee card" is just so easy. Many believers just carelessly call anyone who stands up for righteousness a Pharisee. Having an clear understanding of what it was about the Pharisees that Jesus did not agree with can help us better understand how we should conduct ourselves today.
Jesus had nothing personal against the Pharisees, but opposed their beliefs and teachings instead. Here are three principles from the Pharisees that Jesus opposed and why He also opposes modern-day legalism.
Misplaced hope on self-effort rather than God's grace
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." But the Pharisees put a lot of effort into adding to God's grace when it comes to earning God's favour.
God's covenant with us has always been based on grace and mercy. Some of us wrongly assume that only the New Testament is built on God's grace, but even the Old Testament is as well. Without God's grace, He would have never even given Israel a chance to redeem themselves. When confronting the experts on the law, Jesus highlighted on Hosea 6:6- "For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings."
Focus on rules rather than relationship
When the disciples were confronted over their conduct on the Sabbath, Jesus challenges the Pharisees saying in Mark 2:27, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath."
The Pharisees were experts of the law, but they were not very good at catching the core essence at the heart of any of the laws. God has always meant for the laws He gave to be an avenue to right relationship, not rules. God is a relational God and His commandments are given to draw us near to Him, not drive us away.
Exclusivity because of pious behaviour
In the Christian faith, there is no caste system. God puts so much value on equality among all believers because no matter how good you think you are, we "all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
The Pharisees thought that because of their religious behaviour that they were more favoured by God. Nothing could be more wrong. John 3:16a tells us, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son." God loves all the world and not just the pious believers.
