Several people have commented on the helpfulness of seeing the Pharisees as “good guys” for our own sanctification in the image of Christ. Kevin Bywater has spotted what I agree is a pretty clear case in the Reformed community (or Reformed battlefield, as the case may be) where the negative example of the Pharisees should have been taken more seriously in order to avoid some rather embarrassing ugliness:

Such is the nature of some contemporary Reformed polemics. We’ve seen this kind of posturing before. It was common among many sects in Second Temple Judaism, each deeming itself true Israel. Sectarianism is a very human posture.

One need only read Dunn’s defense of the Gospel record against E. P. Sanders to find some telling parallels between the first century and today’s Reformed advocates.

Of course, the evidence of these parallels could be expounded upon, but not without hurting feelings and bruising egos (even more). It would be nice to see a sudden outbreak of civil discourse (or, on the other hand, the Presbyterian use of the Church courts rather than a lot of big talk over the internet, at conferences, etc).