And how does one distinguish between the two? The Pharisees did have the scriptures available to them and knew them very well as they were written. Why did they not understand what they knew?
You missed my real question, I guess. There are people who know the scriptures very well, but know God scarcely or even not at all. The apostle Paul was like that before he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He was a Bible scholar and a Pharisee, but he did not know, did not recognize Jesus until Jesus identified himself to him:One way is fruitfulness.
"And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks" Acts 9:5
Then in spite of his knowledge of the scriptures it was several years before Paul was ready for the work God had for him to do. Just reading the scriptures and studying may be a good thing, but Saul/Paul knew them well and went about persecuting true believers, having then beaten, tortured and killed... until he met Jesus. This was the key that I see... meeting Jesus. How does one do that?
Yes, the Pharisees, including Saul/Paul did that and Jesus was quite the counterpoint. How did that change in Paul... for it surely did change?You know you've been receiving from God when your love for others increases.
The pharisees seemed to show a lack of love for others. Jesus was quite the counterpoint. They went around collecting disciples to themselves. John the Baptizer said that he must decrease so Jesus would increase. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to decrease so they could increase. And this is not what it looks like what someone comes to the Word with an honest heart.
As you say those knowledgeable but selfish Pharisees had it upside down. They refused to hear the words of the Baptizer and "come... with an honest heart":
"But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question." Acts 23:6
"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44
"Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled." Matt 5:6