Final answer:
The Pharisees believed that all Jews were obligated to follow the 613 laws and injunctions of Moses, in contrast to the Sadducees who believed these laws were only for the priestly class. They also awaited a messiah and were known for their strict interpretation of the law, which sometimes led to accusations of hypocrisy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Pharisees were a Jewish sect during the first century CE that believed the priestly codes, which are often associated with the 613 laws and injunctions laid down by Moses, applied to all Jews and not just the priestly class. This position was opposite to that of the Sadducees, another influential group at the time, which contended that only the priests of the Temple were required to follow these detailed laws, with the rest of the Jewish population needing only to adhere to the Ten Commandments.
The Pharisees not only argued for universal adherence to the laws but also promoted the belief in the coming of a messiah, a savior who would bring about a day of judgment and the fulfillment of the Biblical Covenant. Their strict approach to the law and emphasis on piety were known and sometimes criticized. For example, the text from LibreTexts™ portrays them as hypocritical, accentuating the tension between external religious observance and the internal spiritual state.
In contrast to both Pharisees and Sadducees, groups such as the Essenes and the Zealots had distinct approaches to Jewish law and life under the Roman occupation. The Essenes lived a life of asceticism and mysticism in the deserts, and the Zealots called for armed revolt against Roman rule.
Understanding the views of the Pharisees on the laws of Moses is essential for comprehending the religious and social dynamics of Jewish society in the first century CE, including how these dynamics intersected with broader Roman policies and societal norms of the time.