Who Are They www Hebron Church Of Christ

Who Are They? www. Hebron. Church. Of. Christ. com

Who Are They? “Hypocrites, ” “blind guides, ” “brood of vipers, ” Mt. 23: 15 -33 ✗ Jesus’ description of scribes & Pharisees ✗ Loved religious titles, Mt. 23: 6 -10 ✗ Put religion on their sleeves, Mt. 23: 5, 14

Who Are They? “Hypocrites, ” “blind guides, ” “brood of vipers, ” Mt. 23: 15 -33 ✗ Who are these people in the New Testament ◆ Sadducees ◆ Lawyers ◆ Zealots ◆ Herodians

Who Are They? Pharisees Mt. 9: 34 Historic background ✗ Pharisee: “separated” or “separatist” ✗ Traced by to 2 nd century BC ✗ Pious men who resisted Hellenism ✗ Leadership of middle-class men ✗ Held sway with the masses

Who Are They? Pharisees Mt. 9: 34 Historic background ✗ Strict ceremonial & dietary regulations ✗ Official membership standards stringent ✗ High esteem for oral traditions ✗ Democratic views – equality of men

Who Are They? Pharisees Mt. 9: 34 New Testament actions & beliefs ✗ Made own laws, Mt. 15: 1 -14 ✗ Strict sect, Acts 26: 5 ✗ Opposed Jesus, Mt. 12: 9 -14 ✗ Believed in an afterlife, Acts 23: 8

Who Are They? Sadducees Mt. 3: 7 Historic Background ✗ Possible meanings ◆ Righteous ones ◆ Sons of Zadok ◆ Judges or fiscal controllers

Who Are They? Sadducees Mt. 3: 7 Historic Background ✗ Aristocratic rulers beginning in 1 st century ✗ High priesthood & priestly caste ✗ Majority of Sanhedrin council ✗ Wealthy, upper class ✗ Very political ✗ Disappeared after 70 AD

Who Are They? Sadducees Mt. 3: 7 New Testament actions & beliefs ✗ Priestly caste, Acts 5: 17 ✗ Denied the resurrection, angels, spirits, Mt. 22: 23 -33; Acts 23: 6 -8 ✗ Sought to keep the status quo, Jn. 11: 45 -50 ✗ Opposed the apostles, Acts 4: 1 -3

Who Are They? Scribes & Lawyers Mt. 2: 4; Lk. 10: 25 Historic Background ✗ Copied & studied the Law ✗ Experts in the Law ✗ Lawyers acted as judges ✗ Could be Pharisees, Sadducees, or other

Who Are They? Scribes & Lawyers Mt. 2: 4; Lk. 10: 25 New Testament actions & beliefs ✗ Kept traditions, Mk. 7: 1, 2 ✗ Accused Jesus of blasphemy, Mk. 2: 1 -7 ✗ Tried to entrap Jesus, Jn. 8: 2 -5 ✗ Hard-hearted, Mt. 21: 15 ✗ Responsible for death of Christ – along with others, Mk. 8: 31; 14: 1

Who Are They? Zealots Historic Background ✗ Developed in reaction to greater Roman control ✗ Used violence & intrigue ✗ Refused to pay taxes ✗ Refused to use foreign language

Who Are They? Zealots New Testament actions & beliefs ✗ Simon the Zealot – apostle, Lk. 6: 15

Who Are They? Herodians Historic Background ✗ Supporters of Herodian rulers ✗ Political party

Who Are They? Herodians New Testament actions & beliefs ✗ Sought to destroy Jesus early, Mk. 3: 6 ✗ Joined with Pharisees to entrap Jesus, Mt. 22: 15 -22

Who Are They? Pharisees Nationalists – repentance & submission to God Zealots Nationalists – resistance & rebellion to Rome Sadducees Aristocrat rulers – good terms with Rome to maintain power Herodians Compromisers – sell-outs to wicked rulers

Who Are They? Modern manifestations of these groups are seen in denominations ✗ Religious titles ✗ Outward displays of religious devotion ✗ Creating own laws & regulations ✗ More interest in political power than spiritual purity ✗ Compromisers with a wicked culture ✗ Enemies of the cross of Christ