The Original Holiness Preachers Were the Holier Than Thou Pharisees

Jesus said, "That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20). A clear condition for salvation is given here but how many have actually paid attention to it? Who were the pharisees & what did they believe? How are true believers in the Lord Jesus Christ going to "exceed" the righteousness of the Pharisees to whom He referred?
Hypocrisy is the state of promoting or administering virtues, moral or religious beliefs, principles, etc., that one does not actually have or is guilty of violating. Hypocrisy often involves the deception of others and thus can be considered a kind of lie. Dictionary meanings include: 1. The practice of professing beliefs, feelings, or virtues that one does not hold or possess; falseness. 2. An act or instance of such falseness.

An important theme in the New Testament is the opposition between law and love. Accordingly, the New Testament, particularly the Synoptic Gospels, presents the Pharisees as obsessed with man-made rules (especially concerning purity) whereas Jesus is concerned with God's love, mercy & compassion; the Pharisees scorn sinners whereas Jesus seeks them out. The Gospel of John, which is the only gospel where Nicodemus is mentioned, portrays the sect as more divided and more willing to debate. Because of the New Testament's frequent depictions of Pharisees as self-righteous rule-followers (see also Woes of the Pharisees and Legalism (theology)), the word "pharisee" (and its derivatives: "pharisaical", etc.) has come into semi-common usage in English to describe a hypocritical and arrogant person.