Pharisees and Hypocrisy
Early Christian writers said the Pharisees were a picture of hypocrisy, outward religion, and hidden sin. Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus, and others return to Jesus’ warnings in Matthew and Luke. They especially stress the leaven of the Pharisees, the washed outside of the cup, and the whitewashed tomb image. This page gathers the clearest early Christian witnesses on that theme.
125 early-church witnesses · 233 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about the Pharisees and Hypocrisy?
Early Christian writers strongly linked the Pharisees with hypocrisy, outward religion, and teaching that hid a wrong heart. Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Origen, Clement of Alexandria, Irenaeus, Tatian, and others repeat Jesus’ warnings about the leaven of the Pharisees, the washed outside of the cup, and whitewashed tombs. The evidence is broad and steady across the second and third centuries, and it fits the direct Bible passages in Matthew, Luke, and Mark.
Some writers also used the Pharisees as a warning about empty tradition and hidden sin, so the theme is not just name-matching but a real moral critique. The main evidence is direct and clear, though a few cards only repeat the Gospel wording or use the Pharisees as background for another point. Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- Early Christian writers repeatedly connected the Pharisees with hypocrisy and outward show.
- The strongest texts come from Matthew 23, Luke 11, and Matthew 16.
- Many second- and third-century authors used Jesus’ warnings as a lesson about inner purity, not just outward religion.
Questions Answered by the Sources
How did early Christians understand Jesus’ warnings about the Pharisees?
Early Christian writers repeatedly said Jesus’ warnings about the Pharisees were warnings against hypocrisy, outward show, and hidden uncleanness. They quoted Matthew 23 and Luke 12:1 to explain that the issue was not only the Pharisees themselves, but the kind of religion that looks righteous on the outside while remaining corrupt inside.
-
Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Direct teaching
...es!’ He also overturned the tables of the money-changers in the temple, and exclaimed, ‘Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you pay tithe of mint and rue, but do not observe the love of God and justice. You whitewashed tombs! Appearing beautiful outwardly, but are within full of dead men’s bones.’ And to the Scribes, ‘Woe to you, Scribes! For you have the keys, and you do not enter in yourselves, and those who are entering you hinder; you blind guides!’
-
Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
It was right, therefore, that the hypocrisy of the Pharisees displeased Him. They loved God with their lips, but not with their heart. “Beware,” He says to the disciples, “of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy,” not of the proclamation of the Creator. The Son hates those who refused obedience to the Father. Nor does He want His disciples to show such a disposition toward Him. Note this well: not toward another god, against whom such hypocrisy might indeed have been allowable, like the hypocrisy He wanted to guard His disciples against. It is the example of the Pharisees that He forbids. It was with respect to Him against whom the Pharisees were sinning that Christ now forbade His disciples to offend. Since, then, He had censured their hypocrisy, which covered the secrets of the heart and hid the mysteries of unbelief under outward acts, because, while holding the key of knowledge, it would neither enter in itself nor allow others to enter in, He therefore adds, “There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, neither hidden which shall not be known,” Luke 12:2. He says this so that no one may think He was trying to reveal and make known a god who had until then be
-
Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching
...rom the other Gospels like this, I may seem to be digressing, but I do not think it is useless or unrelated to our present subject. For after the priests and Levites who came from Jerusalem, the Pharisees send men to John to ask who he was and to inquire, “Why do you baptize then, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?” After making this inquiry, they then come at once for baptism, as Matthew records, and then they hear words suited to their quackery and hypocrisy. But the words spoken to them were very much like those spoken to the multitudes, and because of this it was necessary to examine both speeches carefully and compare them with each other. It was while we were doing this that various points arose in the order of the matter, and we had to consider them. To what has been said we must add this. In John we find mention of two groups that send messengers. One is the Jews from Jerusalem, who send priests and Levites. The other is the Pharisees, who want to know why he baptizes. And we found that after the inquiry, the Pharisees present themselves for baptism. Could it be that the Jews, who had sent the earlier mission from Jerusalem, received John’s words bef
-
Luke 12:1 Direct teaching
In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Did early Christians think the Pharisees taught something dangerous?
Several sources explain the “leaven of the Pharisees” as their teaching, not literal bread. Origen and Tatian in particular read Jesus’ warning as a caution against Pharisaic doctrine and its influence on disciples.
-
Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
...plainly to them, and showed them openly, since they were confused by the double meaning of loaf and leaven, that He was not speaking to them about literal bread, but about the leaven in teaching. He added, “How is it that you do not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? But beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Matthew 16:11 Although He had not yet made the interpretation fully clear, and was still using figurative language, the disciples would have understood that the Savior’s message was about the teaching, figuratively called leaven, which the Pharisees and Sadducees were teaching. So long, then, as we have Jesus with us, fulfilling the promise that says, “Lo, I am with you always, to the end of the age,” Matthew 28:20 we cannot fast or lack food in such a way that, because of need, we would want to take and eat the forbidden leaven, even that of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Now there may sometimes be a time, while He is with us, when we are without food, as is said in the passage above, “They have continued with me now three days and have nothing to eat.” Matthew 15:32 But even if this happens, because He is unwilling to send us away fasting
-
Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
but since, from want of loaves, we run the risk of taking from their leaven, while the Saviour does not wish us to run back to their teaching, therefore He said to us, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees.
-
Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
Matthew 16:11 And though He had not laid bare the interpretation, but still continued to use metaphorical language, the disciples would have understood that the discourse of the Saviour was about the teaching, figuratively called leaven, which the Pharisees and Sadducees were teaching.
-
Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
Matthew 16:6 For there was a certain lump of teaching and of truly ancient leaven — that according to the bare letter, and on this account not freed from those things which arise from wickedness — which the Pharisees and Sadducees offered, of which Jesus does not wish His own disciples any longer to eat, having made for them a new and spiritual lump, offering Himself to those who gave up the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees and had come to Him — the living bread which came down from heaven and gives life to the world.
-
Tertullian, Against Marcion Direct teaching
Beware, He says to the disciples, of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy, not the proclamation of the Creator.
-
Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
... boat they had only one loaf. Jesus warned them and said, "Watch out, and guard yourselves from the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and from the leaven of Herod." They reasoned among themselves that it was because they had brought no bread. Jesus knew this and said to them, "Why are you thinking among yourselves, you of little faith, and worrying because you have no bread? Do you still not perceive or understand? Is your heart still hard? Do you have eyes, and yet not see? Do you have ears, and yet not hear? And do you not remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said, "Twelve." He said to them, "And when I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?" They said, "Seven." He said to them, "How is it that you have not understood that I was not speaking to you about bread, but that you should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees?" Then they understood that he was not telling them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees, which he called leaven.
-
Matthew 16:6 Direct teaching
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
-
Matthew 16:11 Direct teaching
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Why were the Pharisees criticized for outward religion?
The supplied sources link Pharisaic criticism to outward religious display: clean cups and tombs outside, but corruption inside. Early writers used this to stress that true righteousness must begin in the heart and be matched by conduct, not just appearances.
-
Tatian, The Diatessaron Direct teaching
Pharisees and scribes came to him from Jerusalem. When they saw that some of his disciples were eating bread without washing their hands, they found fault. For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands carefully, because they hold to the tradition of the elders. And they do not eat what was bought from the market unless they wash it. They keep many other things that they received, such as the washing of cups, measures, bronze vessels, and couches. So the scribes and Pharisees asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the traditions of the elders, but eat bread without washing their hands?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Why do you also break the commandment of God because of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever speaks evil of his father or his mother shall surely die.' But you say, 'If a man says to his father or to his mother, "Whatever you would receive from me is an offering,"' then you do not allow him to do anything for his father or his mother. In this way, you make void and reject the word of God because of the tradition that you have handed down and commanded, such as the washing of cu
-
Origen, Commentary on Matthew Background
Then Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Him and said, "Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread." Matthew 15:1-2 Anyone who notices when the Pharisees and scribes came from Jerusalem to Jesus, saying, "Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders?" and so on, will see that Matthew did not simply write that Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to the Savior to ask Him about these matters. He necessarily wrote it this way: "Then Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Him." What time, then, should we understand by "then"? It was the time when Jesus and His disciples crossed over and came by boat to the land of Gennesaret, when the wind stopped after Jesus entered the boat, and when the men of that place recognized Him, sent into all the surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick, and begged Him that they might only touch the border of His garment. And as many as touched it were made well. Matthew 14:35-36 At that time Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came to Him. They were not amazed at the power in Jesus, which healed those who touched even the border of His garment. Ins
-
Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
...rds. But we must consider the nature of the charge that the Savior brings against the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem when He says that they transgress the commandment of God because of their tradition. And God said, "Honor your father and your mother," Exodus 20:12, teaching that a child should give his parents the honor that is due to them. One part of this honor to parents was to share with them the necessities of life, such as food and clothing, and anything else by which children could show kindness to their own parents. But the Pharisees and scribes taught, against the law, a tradition that is rather obscurely mentioned in the Gospel. We ourselves would not have understood it unless one of the Hebrews had given us the following explanation of the passage. Sometimes, he says, when money-lenders met stubborn debtors who were able but unwilling to pay what they owed, they dedicated the debt to the account of the poor. For money was thrown into the treasury by those who wanted to give some part of their goods to the poor according to their ability. So they would sometimes say to their debtors in their own language, "What you owe me is Corban," that is, "a gift," for I hav
-
Origen, Commentary on Matthew Direct teaching
...tarted to run back to fleshly things. For there was a certain mass of teaching and of truly ancient leaven, teaching according to the bare letter, and therefore not free from the things that come from wickedness, which the Pharisees and Sadducees offered. Jesus did not want His own disciples to eat of it any longer. Instead, He made for them a new and spiritual mass, offering Himself to those who gave up the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees and came to Him, the living bread that came down from heaven and gives life to the world, John 6:33, 51. But for the person who is no longer going to use the leaven, the mass, and the teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the first thing is to see, and then to beware, so that no one, by failing to see and by failing to take heed, may ever share in their forbidden leaven. For this reason He says to the disciples first, "See," and then, "Beware." It is the mark of a clear-sighted and careful person to distinguish the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees, and every food that is not from the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, 1 Corinthians 5:8, from the living bread, that is, the bread that came down from heaven, so that no one
-
Hippolytus, Refutation of All Heresies Background
...s who practice Jewish customs themselves. These, in regard to both lineage and the laws, are called Pharisees. Most of them are found in every place. For although all are called Jews, they have been given distinct names because of the special opinions each group puts forward. These Pharisees firmly hold to the ancient tradition, and they continue, in a disputing spirit, to examine closely the things that are regarded by the Law as clean or unclean. They interpret the rules of the Law, and they appoint teachers whom they prepare to give instruction in these matters. These Pharisees say that fate exists, and that some things are in our power, while others are under the control of destiny. In this way they maintain that some actions depend on ourselves, while others depend on fate. But they also say that God is the cause of all things, and that nothing is directed or happens without His will. They also acknowledge that there is a resurrection of the flesh, that the soul is immortal, and that there will be a judgment and a conflagration. They say that the righteous will be imperishable, but that the wicked will endure everlasting punishment in unquenchable fire.
-
Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness
And therefore the scribes and Pharisees, too, who from the times of the law had begun to despise God, did not receive His Word, that is, they did not believe on Christ.
-
Matthew 23:13 Direct teaching
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
-
Matthew 23:15 Direct teaching
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.
-
Matthew 23:23 Direct teaching
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
-
Luke 11:42 Direct teaching
But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
-
Matthew 16:12 Direct teaching
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
-
Mark 3:6 Supporting witness
And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Common Questions
Did early Christians think the Pharisees were hypocrites?
Yes. Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Clement of Alexandria, Origen, and Irenaeus all repeat Jesus’ charge that the Pharisees were hypocrites, outwardly religious but inwardly wrong.
What Bible passages did early Christians use about Pharisee hypocrisy?
They often used Matthew 23:13, 23:23, 23:25-28, Luke 11:39-42, and Matthew 16:6, 12.
Did early Christians see the Pharisees as a warning about outward religion?
Yes. They used the Pharisees to warn against clean-looking actions with a dirty heart, empty tradition, and faith that is only on the lips.
Source Index for the Pharisees and Hypocrisy
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 233 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 125
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 108
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.