Why did the Pharisees know the Truth, but not let it change their lives?

They had hardened their hearts.

They were too proud to accept correction, with their self-righteous, superior attitudes. Here they were, confronted with Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah. They were confronted, in fact, with God in the flesh. But they would not humble themselves. They should have bowed down to worship him. Instead, they rejected Jesus. And so they will have to stand before the Lord of the universe in judgment.

They remind me remarkably of a group that is also self-righteous, who call themselves the "only true Christians", who take pride in their Bible knowledge. But they perverted the Bible, by commissioning a small group of so-called scholars who rewrote it to fit their theology. They reject who Jesus is, they reject the Trinity, they reject the truths of Heaven and Hell, preferring to let eight men in New York City control their "beliefs". They claim to be teachers, but in reality need to be students of the REAL Jesus Christ. Perhaps you've heard of them. They're called Jehovah's Witnesses. But what they witness to is themselves. Just like the Pharisees. You would do well to avoid them.

As to you, learn from the Lord Jesus Christ, who sent the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth. Then do as he leads. If you place your faith in him, you will have a home in Heaven with the Lord and countless other Christians. Or you can be a Pharisee, if you choose. But being a Pharisee is a path to eternal condemnation. Choose wisely.

Jesus Christ rightly referred to the scribes and Pharisees as fools and blind ones, that is, persons lacking wisdom and being morally worthless, for they had distorted the truth by man-made traditions and followed a hypocritical course.

Moreover, Jesus backed up the correctness of this designation by illustrating their lack of discernment.

The scribes and Pharisees pretended to be loyal teachers of God’s Law, but in reality they filled people’s minds with human teachings that drew attention away from God.

The scribes and Pharisees scrupulously insisted on the letter of the law, but they ignored fundamental principles that reflected love and compassion. In public they pretended to be devoted to God, but in private they were full of badness.

Because they were not circumcised in heart. Compare Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 9: 25, 26; Acts 7:51;

Hannah J Paul

There's little distinction between "fool" and "stupid."

It could be that they were unconvinced, and villainized after the fact by revisionists seeking to cast their beliefs in the best possible light and any detractors in the worst possible way.

They followed the letter and not the spirit of the Law.

The same as religious leaders today. They also have the opportunity to learn the Truth. But because of their pride and lack of humility and hard heartedness they too do not listen and do not let Bible truths guide them or touch their hearts.

I sincerely do think that a truth that might be utterly life-changing to someone..? Might NOT be to someone else! Because people are going to experience it differently...

Speaking from experience with this, sort of. I'm a super-hyper-emotional person, who perceives and relates to everything VERY intensely! A bit of a sensory stimulation junkie.. And someone who reflects a lot, to whom just about EVERYTHING has some sort of deeper meaning! And that's just naturally how I am.. While one of my best friends..? Is the kind of autistic person who's got MAD alexithymia, (meaning, the inability to understand and access emotions), and who's inherently apathetic about pretty much EVERYTHING, except for playing video games! Which is incredibly frustrating at times.. But I love him, too, because he's a super sweet person, who's always been there for me.

So anyway.. This is maybe my main take-away from my relationship with him.. That people might THINK they have the same experience, if they, say, go to a church service together, but it actually couldn't POSSIBLY be any more freaking different! And someone might share a certain religious belief, or any other belief.. Which could mean EVERYTHING to someone like me! But it could still mean basically NOTHING to someone like my friend! Even if he DID believe in it! (He just so happens to be an agnostic atheist, though.)

But Jesus doesn't claim it as a reason failing but a WILL failing