joe davis
November 16, 2014
HRT3M Assessment
“Sects in Judea [Thinking}”
The Sadducees were upper class people they tended to be wealthy and held dominant positions. They worked hard to keep the peace by agreeing with the decisions of Rome because Israel at this time was under Roman control, and they seemed to be more concerned with politics than religion. Because they were helpful to Rome and were the wealthy upper class, they did not relate well to the common man, nor did the common man hold them in high opinion. The religious responsibilities of the Sadducees included the maintenance of the Temple in Jerusalem. Their high social status was reinforced by their priestly responsibilities, as instructed in the Torah. They strictly followed the Torah but rejected the prophetic writings. The Sadducees were the priestly descendants of Zadok, a priest from the time of David. (John 11:48-50; Mark 14:53; 15:1)
The Pharisees were mostly middle-class businessmen, and therefore were in contact with the common man. The Pharisees were held in much higher respect by the common man than the Sadducees. The Pharisees believed that in addition to the written Torah recognized by both the Sadducees and Pharisees they allowed a broad interpretation of it. They were involved in the synagogue worship, but they pursued to make the Jewish law practical and compassionate. The Pharisees were considered the common people. (Matthew 9:14; 15:1-9)
Zealots were a group of political opponent to Roman rule in Judaea, who were determined to protect their religion from the imposition of Roman rituals and to end Gentile rule over the Jewish people. The Zealots were some of the most aggressive people and were called some of the first terrorists. (Matthew 10:4; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13)
The Essenes were a Jewish spiritual sect somewhat resembling the Pharisees. They lived lives of ritual