Scholars aim to give Christians a kinder, gentler view of Pharisees

I sometimes wonder if Christ Himself thought about becoming a Pharisee in His earlier years, but rejected the movement as he grew older and more discerning.

We might remember when His parents were looking for him and found Him in the temple three days later, that he was "sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions".

Luke 2:41-47 (NIV)

Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.

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I think it would be odds on that at least some of the teachers would have been Pharisees.

I remember our Archbishop saying once at a Bible study seminar that the Bible gives the Pharisees a bad press, but "don't be fooled!" (or words to that effect). He commented that of all the Jewish sects, the Pharisees were the closest in teaching and outlook to the Christians.