In the New Testament, the Sadducees were a Jewish political party and a religious order. They are some of Jesus’ primary detractors. To put it one way, perhaps as the punk rocker in my heart might, they were sell outs. They were walking a thin line between loyalty to God and loyalty to the Roman Empire which occupied Palestine. They were increasingly allowing Rome and its officials to disrupt Jewish culture and ideology. In fact, to most people, the Sadducees and the Romans were about the same. They spoke in the name of God but represented the interests of the Roman Empire. I am sympathetic with them because they were truly caught in a difficult place, trying to lead their people, while facing extinction, destruction, and displacement by a powerful occupier.
Empathizing with modern-day Sadducees
Empathizing with modern-day Sadducees
Empathizing with modern-day Sadducees
In the New Testament, the Sadducees were a Jewish political party and a religious order. They are some of Jesus’ primary detractors. To put it one way, perhaps as the punk rocker in my heart might, they were sell outs. They were walking a thin line between loyalty to God and loyalty to the Roman Empire which occupied Palestine. They were increasingly allowing Rome and its officials to disrupt Jewish culture and ideology. In fact, to most people, the Sadducees and the Romans were about the same. They spoke in the name of God but represented the interests of the Roman Empire. I am sympathetic with them because they were truly caught in a difficult place, trying to lead their people, while facing extinction, destruction, and displacement by a powerful occupier.