1. Jewish GROUPS IN Jesus’time
Sadducees, Pharisees, Zealots, Essenes

2. Sadducees Mostly upper class
Had conservative political and religious views
Held powerful positions
Liked things as they were, didn’t like change
Kept their distance from the “common” people

3. Sadducees on Religion
Believed that only the Torah (the 1st 5 books of the Bible) had authority
If the Torah didn’t have something to say on an issue, they believed that the rulers were the best to decide what to do
Were mainly concerned with the Temple cult
Made deals with non-Jewish authorities as long as rituals and sacrifices were allowed and left in the control of the priests

4. Ideas not in the Torah were not acceptable, like:
the resurrection of the body,
rewards and punishments after death,
they did not believe in angels or demons,
they did not think about God’s final plans

5. Pharisees concerned with keeping the distinctive character of Judaism
their work was centered around the synagogue
study
worship
works of charity

6. Pharisees on the “Law” / Torah
The Torah must be enough for all time and all situations
In every situation, the scriptures had to be interpreted in a way that addressed the situation
The oral law helped people understand the written law
The oral law was an essential partner to the written law and just as binding
Keeping both the written and oral law was necessary for the future of Judaism

7. Pharisees tried to see everyone as equal
wanted every Israelite to go through priestly purification
Every home was a temple
Every table was an altar
Every Jew a priest making an offering to the Lord

8. Ideas Pharisees accepted (even though Sadducees didn’t)
The resurrection of the body
Angels and demons
Made the expectation of a Messiah part of the Jewish consciousness at the time of Jesus
Believed that God was in control of history

9. ZEALOTS Fought for religious and political independence
Saw themselves as the agents of God’s wrath
Believed that God would redeem them for their zeal (enthusiasm) for protecting and promoting God’s law
Were strong nationalists, believing that Jewish independence was part of God’s plan
They were ready to fight and trusted that God would help them.

10. ESSENES
Reminded people that the present world was going to end and that God would create a new order
Believed in a final battle between the forces of light (God) and the forces of dark (evil)
Lived by strict discipline to be able to side with the forces of light
Rejected the Temple
Believed that the priesthood was corrupted by the Greek influences

11. Scribes
Often called rabbis (teachers) because they interpreted sacred writings
Had the power to say whether actions were lawful or not according to Jewish law
Many scribes were also Pharisees
Some were members of the Sanhedrin, the highest legal authority in the Jewish state