Musing – What were the Rabbinic teaching methods of the Pharisees?

 Hebraic Musing – What were the Rabbinic teaching methods of the Pharisees?

I find it interesting that the four Gospels are each written mainly in one of the four specific Pharisaical teaching styles or methods.  Let’s look for the prevailing teaching method and or layers of meaning(s) in each of the four Gospels?  Does each Gospel message become more meaningful when we recognize the unique status/relationship of each author? 

Matthew is clearly one of the Apostles and he composed in the derash style which “seeks moral and legal lessons, often through similar occurrences in the text by inquiries that seek and look for the comparisons between word usages.”  Commentaries call this midrash in which we often find moralistic tales in parables derived from rabbinical legal rulings based on Pharisaical teachings.  We see this in Chapter 1 describing the genealogy of Jesus justifying His moral and legal standing.

Mark was a companion of Peter, so his Gospel was the first one written and his writing style is called peshat, a “plain or simple, primary level of interpretation of the words and the context.”  Mark starts by recounting the beginning of Jesus’ ministry with John the Baptist’s ministry foretold by the prophets.  “Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You. The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the LORD; Make His paths straight.’” Mark 1:1-3 NIV   We find another example in Mark 14:3-9 tells a simple story of Jesus being anointed by a women with costly perfume and people were being critical.  Jesus is reported as responding in simple direct terms – “Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me…” and “She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial.”

Luke was a physician and traveling companion of Paul, and thus, interested in healings!  A lot of his teachings were based on Paul’s ministry; in fact, the first two chapters in the book of Acts is a sequel to this Gospel which his also addressed to Theophilus!  Luke’s opening verses acknowledge that his goal “to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us” from eyewitnesses.  His Gospel message is written in remez, a “hinting, allegorical and hidden or symbolic language with deeper insights to suggest hints or metaphors.”  We are expected to find deeper meanings which enable a person with sufficient knowledge of scripture and Rabbinic teachings to understand the intended meaning or interpretation.  For example, he starts with the genealogy of Mary back to Adam to introduce the predicted Messiah.  And in Luke 19:10 - “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” and that fulfilled Ezekiel 34:11-12 – “For thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.  As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them…”

John was one of the Apostles, in fact, he was young and is referred to as the “beloved disciple.”  His Gospel is distinct and theological and therefore begins with the sod of sod in which we find “esoteric or mystical meanings that reveal hidden truths through inspiration or revelation.“  We see this in the opening verses – “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word… without Him nothing was made that was made…. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” excerpts from John 1:1-5.   Another mystery in vs 14 which says “the Word becoming flesh…”    And John speaks of Light that can’t be comprehended, and with the Word dwelling amongst men!  We might call some of his teachings tantalizingly “mysterious”, especially John 3:16 through 21 where Jesus equates good and evil to light and dark. 

Points to Ponder

How does the differing authorships of each Gospel confirm their validity? (Four eye-witnesses!)

When we read each of the Gospels, does it help to identify the differing teaching styles?

Does each of the Gospels minister to different people groups in differing ways?

Thank you, LORD, for four Gospels, each with their own message and perspective.

Yosef   a.k.a.  Joe Brusherd                       February 10, 2026            
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith” 
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”     Weekly “Hebraic Musings”

Note – Inspired by “Jesus, the Pharisee Messiah” Chap. 6, by Roy Blizzard III & John Ingle.

 

Also note that the style of the OT is Pardes, a method of biblical interpretation in Judaism, consisting of four distinct layers of meaning.  Pardes is also a cognate of our English word Paradise, Orchard or Garden, a place to glean the fruit of knowledge.

 

 

 

The Pardes writing style refers to a method of biblical interpretation in Judaism, consisting of four distinct layers of meaning:

Peshat (Peshat): The literal or plain meaning of the text, focusing on the straightforward interpretation of the words and context.

Remez (Remez): The allegorical or hidden meaning, where deeper insights are suggested through hints or metaphors.

Derash (Derash): The interpretive layer that seeks moral and legal lessons, often through similar occurrences in the text.

Sod (Sod): The esoteric or mystical meaning, revealing hidden truths through inspiration or revelation.

 

What is the synoptics in the Bible?

AI Overview

In the Bible, "synoptic" refers to the first three Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) because they present similar accounts of Jesus' life, often in the same sequence and wording, allowing them to be "seen together" (from the Greek synopsis) for comparison, unlike the Gospel of John, which has a different focus and style. The term comes from Greek words meaning "to see together," reflecting their shared perspective and content, with scholars believing Matthew and Luke used Mark as a source. 

Key aspects of Synoptic Gospels: 

• Matthew, Mark, Luke: 

These are the three Synoptic Gospels. 

• Shared Content: 

They cover many of the same stories, events, and parables of Jesus' ministry. 

• Similar Structure: 

The events are often presented in a similar order, making them easy to compare side-by-side. 

• Origin of the Term: 

"Synoptic" comes from Greek synopsis, meaning "seeing together" or "general view". 

• Contrast with John: 

The Gospel of John is distinct, offering a different perspective, timeline, and largely unique material. 

• Literary Relationship: 

Their similarities suggest a literary connection, with most scholars believing Matthew and Luke drew from the Gospel of Mark, which was likely written first.