Discuss the positive and negative aspects of the Pharisees.

As we consider the positive and negative aspects of the Pharisees, what does Jesus say about this subject. In Mat 23:1, Jesus told the multitude and his disciples the following: Positive comment: The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: Positive comment: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; Negative comment: but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. Negative comment: For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. Negative comment: But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, Negative comment: And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, Negative comment: And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. Negative comment: 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. Negative comment: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. Negative comment: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. Negative comment: Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! This is just a few of the negative comments Jesus had for the Pharisees. We know when they taught from the scriptures, they were setting in Moses Seat of instruction. Stephen sseach@verizon.net (Mat 23:1-7 KJV) Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, {2} Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: {3} All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. {4} For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. {5} But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, {6} And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, {7} And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.  (Mat 23:13-16 KJV) 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. {14} Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation. {15} Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves. {16} Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!