RISE AND GROWTH OF THE SECTS

Bible Topics In The Christian Library

RISE AND GROWTH OF THE SECTS

INTRODUCTION: THREE GREAT SECTS OF THE JEWS AROSE DURING THE INTERTESTAMENT PERIOD.

A. Pharisees
B. Sadducees
C. Essenes

THERE WERE OTHER GROUPS THAT TENDED TO BE MORE POLITICAL THAN RELIGIOUS.

A. Zealots extreme nationalists
1. Simon the Zealot (Luke 6:15)
B. Herodians-supported Herod and the Idumaean dynasty.

BODY

I. THE ESSENES

A. Their way of life and moral code.
1. Was given their name because of their saintliness.
2. Regarded a reverent life as the only true sacrifice.
3. Thought to shun the ownership of private property.
4. Responsible for the Dead Sea Scroll.
5. By Jesus' time they had isolated themselves from society in general.
B. Public role in Society.
1. Never played an important role in public
2. They protested against the High Priesthood of the Maccabean princes.
3. Refused participation in the Temple service.
4. Did much in feeding the needy.

II. THE PHARISEES

A. Beginning roots
1. From the Nehemiah and Ezra the idea of separation became a dominant factor.
a. Separation developed-but became mostly flesh and blood.
2. A group soon developed that opposed everything foreign-even if it might right.
B. Character of Phariseeism
1. Tended to elevate the mass of accumulated tradition up to the level of the written word.
a. Wouldn't eat anything that was not tithed.
2. Believed in the resurrection of the dead, human probation, and the future judgment..
3. Descended rapidly into a "holier than thou" attitude.

C. Role in national life.
1. Almost all of the scribes were Pharisees.
2. Became popular with the masses.
3. Tended to be rebellious against foreign domination of the nation.
4. Were bitterly opposed to the Sadducees.

III. THE SADDUCEES

A. Beginning roots.
1. Developed from the Greek era when there arose a group of national leaders who favored compromise and a "get along" attitude with their enemies.
2. The Sadducees were the original party of privilege
a. The majority of the Priests and national leaders were Sadducees.
b. They were interested in not rocking the boat.
3. The High Priesthood and half of the Sanhedrin were controlled by them.
4. They were always in the minority in the Jewish population
B. Their beliefs and character.
1. They denied the inspiration of all the books of the Old Testament except the Pentateuch (first five books).
2. They didn't believe in the resurrection or the after-life.
3. They denied the existence of angels.
4. they were as cold and moderate as the Pharisees were hot and extreme.

Conclusion: These groups, especially the Sadducees and Pharisees despised each other. Their fighting eventually cost the nation it's existence. Indeed the only thing the Sadducees and Pharisees could agree on during the period was the need to execute the lord. But in their course they unwittingly prepared the way for the lord of glory and the establishment of his church.

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