THE RELIGIOUS SITUATION

the jewish religious community

during Jesus’ time was no longer
united. Due to many factors they
were divided in a number of
religious group or sect:
A. ZEALOTS
they had taken arms against the Romans on more
than one occasion. Many of them had given up their lives
after the liberation of their land.

B. ESSENES
on the other hand were waiting for the right to
wage war against the Romans.

both groups considered armed rebellion as solution to

the situation because of their religious conviction that
God was their only king
C. PHARISEES

the Pharisees formed a powerful minority

group during Jesus’ time. Their name means
the separate ones. And indeed the Pharisees
separated themselves from the rest of society
and formed closed communities within the
community. They considered themselves the
holy ones of Israel.
D. SCRIBES

Many Scribes belonged to the group of Pharisees.

They were the learned men of the community and the
teachers of the law. The Scribes would gather a group
of people around them, their disciples, and explain the
law to them. They loved to called Rabbi or master. The
law became an obsession with them. The letter of the
law was applied to numerous situations and then put
down in an equal number o prescriptions on which
would guide man’s every act.
During Jesus’ time the law had been broken down
into so many prescriptions that no one could memorize
or know it anymore. Therefore, some scribes had
started to summarize these prescriptions and to
reduce them to few principles, such as, “You shall love
the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your
soul, with all your mind: and your neighbor as
yourself.” –(Luke 10:27)
E. SADUCEES
The group of sadducees was mainly composed of the
wealthy upper class. To this group belonged the chief priests,
the elders and few scribes. They were called the leaders of
the people.
the chief priests were responsible for the organization
and administration of the temple. Priesthood was hereditary
from father to son. The elders were the rich laymen.
the sadducees considered themselves broad-minded and
had adopted much of Greek culture. However, in their
religious belief they restricted themselves to the teachings of
the Pentateuch and rejected later teachings, such as on the
resurrection.
they believe that man had to solve his own problems and
should not always rely on the providence of God. No wonder
then that they accommodated the Romans, because they
thought that cooperation was the best way by which they
could solve their political problems.

the sadducees were not much liked by the other people.

F. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Formalism (strict following to the law)

and hypocrisy had eroded the true religion
and worship. Religion had become a source
of division in the community. The law had
been turned into an instrument of
oppression of the simple people. People still
worshipped God but did not show concern
for their fellowmen. There was, therefore, a
need for a change in religion.