Jesus did not get along with everyone. The Pharisees, the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day, hated Jesus. They were the primary force behind his execution. But before Jesus, the Pharisees were considered the good guys, the holy men. They were also the religious police, so everybody was a little intimidated by these Pharisees and followed them blindly like sheep. Then Jesus came. He wasn’t intimidated by the Pharisees. He exposed their hypocrisy, embarrassed them, and threatened their power. He inspired the people to free themselves from the legalistic shackles of the Pharisees. The conflict between Jesus and the Pharisees is similar to the conflict between the church and the world today. Studying these battles will help us make sense of the world we’re living in and not blindly follow the Pharisees of our day or be like them.