The Pharisees were an interesting lot. It is most likely their intentions were good, but they got a tad bit carried away with that whole, crucifying the son of God thing a couple thousand years ago.

They were a separatist group who focused on obeying God and following the law to the letter. In so doing, they forgot the intent of the law, stopped loving people and failed to recognize God when He appeared to them in person.

In today's vernacular, to be a pharisee is to be a hypocrite or a legalist, who appears righteous on the outside, but on the inside harbors no love.