Final answer:
False, the Pharisees did expect the Messiah based on interpretations of Old Testament prophecies, anticipating a figure who would liberate the Jews and fulfill the Covenant with political sovereignty, which differed from early Christian views of spiritual liberation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the Pharisees's understanding of the Messiah was not based on the Old Testament is false. The Pharisees did base their expectations of the Messiah on various prophecies situated within the Old Testament.
The Pharisees had a particular vision for the messiah as a figure who would liberate the Jews from oppression and ensure the fulfillment of the Covenant. The messiah, to them, would lead to a day of judgment and the ultimate deliverance promised by Yahweh. This understanding of the messiah, while it did have political ramifications, was fundamentally rooted in spiritual and theological expectations based on their interpretation of scripture, in contrast to the more recent interpretations by early Christians who saw Jesus's role as spiritual liberation rather than a political revolution.
Aligning with the Old Testament predictions, the Pharisees' messianic expectations were based on a literal and complete fulfillment of the prophecies, which included political sovereignty and the independence of Israel. However, after Jesus's death and the continuation of Roman governance, the majority of Jews, including the Pharisees, did not recognize Jesus as the messiah due to the absence of these concrete political changes.