Pharisees

...were a religious sect composed of the Scribes, a professional group of Bible scholars whose responsibilities included Interpreting the Law of God, Teaching it to the people, and Judging any infractions by the people. Because of their intense devotion to the Law, the Pharisees focused on the literal obedience to the written Code which was handed down from God to Moses. Christ had many encounters with the Pharisees through out His ministry, and sought to open their eyes to the spiritual message which the written Law communicated ... usually with little success.