Origin
Descended from Solomon's high priest, Zadok, and became a faction around 200 B.C.

 

Membership
Priests who were wealthy, aristocratic, and often Hellenistic

 

• Only accepted the Torah as God's law (First Five Books of the OT)
• Rejected oral traditions
• Believed the Temple was the only path to God
• Did not believe in bodily resurrection
• Did not believe in angels

• Ran the Temple and all its ceremonies
• Dominated the Sanhedrin-the religious ruling council
• Lived a Hellenistic, affluent lifestyle
• Received Roman support

The Sadducees denied certain Biblical beliefs (angels) because the Pharisees believed in them and the Sadducees did not like the Pharisees!  Are there certain Biblical teachings of Jesus that we deny or ignore because some other Christian Religious group believes in them?  Is our belief system shaped by the opinions of others?  Do we believe that the only way one can be saved is by going to church?

 

The only thing that matters is what Jesus teaches us and the Bible instructs us!  Is that where we keep our focus?

 

Prayer
Dear Jesus, thank you for your Word and your life that becomes our guide.  Forgive me when I, like the Sadducees, try to change or detour from you!  Amen