When the Elites Rule
The True Israel and the Return of the King
Today’s Verse and Thought
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.”(Matthew 23:13)
The Sanhedrin court (source)
The Sadducees, sometimes historically called “Zadokites” or “Tzedukim,” are thought by some to have been founded by a man named Zadok (or Tsadok) in the second century BC. Another school of thought is that the word Sadducee is related to the Hebrew word sadaq (“to be righteous”). The Sadducees were an aristocratic class connected with everything going on in the temple in Jerusalem. They tended to be wealthy and held powerful positions, including that of chief priests and high priest, and they held the majority of the 70 seats of the ruling council called the Sanhedrin.”(Source)
The Sadducees - the Elite Ruling Class
"But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry.”(Luke 6:24-25)
The Sadducees were a Jewish sect that seemed to have emerged around the second century BC during the late Second Temple period. There is scant information about this sect of Judaism, but we read about their existence in the New Testament.
Jesus had just been approached by some of the Pharisees challenging Jesus about paying taxes, and we have His famous answer: “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”(Mark 12:17). And now it was the Sadducees turn to try and test Jesus.
And Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection. And they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife, but leaves no child, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.(Mark 12:18-19).
Jesus knew they didn’t believe in a resurrection, so the question was an insincere inquiry. They weren’t seeking truth; they were seeking to trick Jesus. He proceeded to put them in their place by telling them they didn’t know what they were talking about.
“Jesus said to them, ‘Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God? For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite wrong.”(Mark 12:24-27)
There was a vast difference in theology between the Pharisees and Sadducees. As we studied yesterday, we read that the Pharisees followed both the written and oral Torah, creating restrictive laws for the common man to follow. They believed in God and HIs intervention in the affairs of humans; in a spiritual realm; in an afterlife; in piety; and they believed in a resurrection of the dead.
The Sadducees, however, believed in none of the spiritual aspects of Judaism. They taught that this earthly life was all there was for humans. They did not believe in an afterlife or resurrection. They believed that every man had the ability to determine his own fate. They arrogantly believed that every person was either poor or wealthy simply by their own choices.
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”(Mark 10:25)
They also taught that when a person died, their existence ceased, and they returned to dirt. They did believe in strict adherence to the written Torah, but not the oral Torah. These beliefs were opposite of the Pharisees, who accepted the concepts of resurrection, an afterlife, God’s hand in human activities, and adherence to the written and oral Torah.
The Sadducees' emphasis was on the “here and now,” only focusing on the written law, following it as a moral and legal guide for society. They did believe in the existence of God, but not in a relational manner. (Their humanistic beliefs are somewhat similar to the Unitarian “church” today, without the Torah Law).
Both Pharisees and Sadducees held positions in the Sanhedrin, the ancient Jewish council and court system that played a crucial role in the governance of Jewish life during the Second Temple period. It functioned as both a legislative body and a judicial authority for the Jewish community.
The Sadducees’ influence was significant because many of the high priests and elite members of society - who typically held majority positions in the Sanhedrin - were affiliated with this sect.
"Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.”(Psalm 37:16-17).
Because they were the elites, and held the majority rule over the Sanhedrin, this allowed them to shape legal and religious decisions in accordance with their own way of thinking. However, they faced considerable opposition from the Pharisees, who held differing views on oral traditions and interpretations of the law.
The political and religious influence within the Sanhedrin often reflected the tensions between the Pharisees and Sadducees in Jewish society. When the Temple was destroyed in 70AD, their power and influence died. But their teachings lived on as Rabbinic Judaism replaced them.
The god they chose was their own appetites. When the Sadducees lost their wealth, and the Pharisees no longer held their positions in the Temple, they became irrelevant and soon faded into history as the Rabbis took over the leadership of the Jews.
To be continued…
Today’s Question
Verses to Explore
"Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?’"(Proverbs 30:8-9)
"Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.”(Ecclesiastes 5:10)
"The Lord enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people: 'It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses. What do you mean by crushing my people and grinding the faces of the poor?’"(Isaiah 3:14-15: )
Today’s Prayer
Father as I watch the elite class today, it strikes me that they are never happy. They are powerful, well fed, and seem to have “fun”, but most are just dead inside. I am so thankful that riches don’t come to many. We can’t handle the power and responsibility that comes with wealth. And I’m thankful that the poor have hope in you. How sad that these leaders took away the hope of your Kingdom. How tragic. I see this same thing happening today with many churches teaching lies. These faithless leaders exploit people, teaching them false doctrine and leading them into an eternal condemnation and suffering.
Father I pray that your truth goes out to those who seek it. And I pray that you raise up strong men and women of Godly character who live for you. We are desperate for Godly leaders today. I pray for those who are faithful to you and who strive to teach your whole truth. Please bless these men and women who are strong in the Word and courageous and compassionate in their faith.
Father I pray that you help those today that are desperate and in need of healing and restoration. I pray our suffering leads us to seek a deep and blessed relationship with you. Thank you for your love and care. Thank you for your truth. May all honor and glory be yours. Amen.❤️