Theo 200
christology
CHAPTER 3: RELIGIOUS SETTING
JUDAISM AND THE JEWISH SOCIETY
THE JEWISH RELIGION
THE GREAT SANHEDRIN
Independent from the Roman government, the
great Sanhedrin (from the Greek sunedrion -
Συνέδριον meaning council).
It was the highest Jewish council that governed the
religious affairs, preserved the beliefs and teachings,
and safeguarded the practices and tradition of the
Jews.
It was composed of seventy one (71) members from
the Sadducees, the Pharisees, and the Scribes. The
High Priest, who was considered as the leader of the
Sanhedrin, originated from the Sadducean party.
THE SADDUCEES
Eventually, Rome got involved for the appointment
of Sanhedrin’s high priest – a situation that
aggravated the insecurity and fear of the Sadducees
of losing the post, thus collaboration with Rome
became a political strategy.
Because of this, Sadducees are hated by their own
countrymen and looked upon as traitors to their
own people.
PRINCESS JOANNA C. JUBANE | BSMLS – 1C
SECS AND PARTIES IN THE SANHEDRIN
SADDUCEES: Origin and Background
The Sadducees claimed to be the spiritual heirs of
Zadok, King David’s appointed chief priest (1 kings
2:35)
Their name was derived from the Greek word
Saddoukaiou, and its Hebrew equivalent Zaddukim
or tsaddiqim which refers to the righteous ones.
Not all Sadducees were priests but they were
generally regarded as belonging to the wealthy,
aristocratic class of Jewish society.
The Sadducees were too centered on temple
services, they disappeared when the Temple was
destroyed in 70 AD.
SADDUCEES: Teachings and Beliefs
They only believed in the TORAH but refused to
recognize the oral tradition of the Jews. This revealed
their conservative attitude towards their religion.
They rejected the existence of angels, the truth of
immortality, and resurrection.
SADDUCEES: Practices and Tradition
In Ezekiel 40:46, it was indicated that only the priests,
the Zadokites (spiritual heirs of Zadok), can approach
the altar of the Lord. Then, the Sadducees
emphasized their inherited right to this role.
SADDUCEES: Encounters
They were the intense rival group of the Pharisees.
They sought to trap Jesus by demanding a sign from
heaven. (Matthew 16:01). They approach Jesus and
told him that there is no resurrection (Matthew
22:23)
They were denounced by John the Baptist as blood
vipers (Matthew 4:07), and by Jesus himself
(Matthew 16:06).
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PHARISEES: Origin and Background
Their emergence was traced from the religious group
known as the Hasideans (from the Hebrew word
Hasidim, the Pious One) who were noted for their
uncompromising observance of the Judaic Law.
The Pharisees (from the Hebrew word Perushim, the
Separated Ones) where laymen who sought to
preserve the Jews from the contamination of foreign
religion, and insisted the strict separation from the
Gentiles.
They were often referred in the Gospel accounts as
rabbi, teacher, due to their expertise in the
interpretation of the Jewish Law.
They ensured the survival and continuity of Judaism
after the destruction of the temple in 70 AD through
oral tradition.
PHARISEES: Teachings and Beliefs
In contrast to the Sadducees, they accepted as
Scripture the Prophets and the Writings as well as
the Pentateuch (TORAH).
They had expectations about the end of the present
age. And they possess a highly developed belief in
angels and demons.
PHARISEES: Practices and Traditions
They made the synagogue as their main venue for
the exposition, and preaching of the Scripture.
They advocated and adhered to the strict observance
of the Sabbath rest, purity rituals, tithing and food
restrictions.
PHARISEES: Encounters
With an obsessive observance of the Law, majority of
the Pharisees fell into the trap of insincerity and
hypocrisy. In Matthew 25 Jesus strongly condemned
the Pharisees as hypocrites and blind guides.
While the Pharisees suffered the most criticism of
Jesus during his public ministry, a few account
recounted Jesus’ friendly interaction with Simon the
Pharisee, who invited Jesus to dine in his house
(Luke 7:36- 50)
PRINCESS JOANNA C. JUBANE | BSMLS – 1C
SCRIBES: Origin and Background
Etymologically, the term scribe is derived from the
Greek word, grammateis nomodidaschaoi, meaning
teachers of the law.
In the Old testament, scribes were professional
copyist who recorded commercial, royal, and
religious text and served as clerks, secretaries and
archivist at Israel’s royal court and temple.
In the New Testament, they referred to an educated
group of people who had the capacity to read, and
interpret the Jewish law – both oral and written.
Some members of the scribes were Pharisees.
SCRIBES: Teachings and Beliefs
They were opposed to the Sadducees but upheld the
Pharisaic teachings.
SCRIBES: Practices and Encounters
They taught in the synagogues – preaching and
teaching the Mosaic law and its interpretation.
SCRIBES: Encounter
They were also rejected by Jesus for their hypocrisy,
pride, and false witness.
RELIGIOUS FACTIONS OUTSIDE THE SANHEDRIN
ESSENES: Origin and Background
They were not described in the New Testament but
the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls in Qumran led
scholars to recognize the Essense whose existence
can be traced as early as the 2 BCE to 1 CE.
ESSENES: Teachings and Beliefs
They criticized the Sadducees as false descendants of
the priest Zadok, and as illegitimate personnel of the
temple.
They anticipated a cosmic war between good and
evil, between the sons of light against the sons of
darkness – an allusion to the apocalypse.
They expected two Messiahs – a priestly and a kingly
Messiah.
ESSENES: Practices and Traditions
They emphasized strong community life, observance
of the Mosaic law, prayer, and strict ritual on purity.
There was an indication that they practice celibacy.
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ESSENES: Encounter
There were no records in the entire New Testament
that Jesus interacted with the Essenes but a few
modern theories insisted that Jesus must have
encountered them because of their similar emphasis
on the end of time.
BAPTISTS: Origin and Background
They were followers of John the Baptist.
BAPTISTS: Teachings and Beliefs
Just like their master John, the Baptists called people
to metanoia (change of heart and mind set), or
repentance as a preparation of the coming of the
prophesied Messiah.
BAPTISTS: Practices and Traditions
They used water for baptism as a symbol of
cleansing from their sins.
BAPTISTS: Encounter
There was not much indication that Jesus interacted
with the Baptists.
RELIGIOUS PLACES IN PALESTINE
THE TEMPLE
It is sacred for Judaism. The temple has remained as
the central place of worship, locus of offering
sacrifices, and house of prayer for the Jews.
The first temple was built by Solomon in 967 to 964
B.C. But was destroyed by the Chaldeans in 586 B.C.
The second temple was erected by Zerubbabel in
515 B.C. but was profaned by the Syrians. Herod the
Great began a magnificent restoration of this temple.
The great temple of Jerusalem was considered to be
the most impressive of all Herod’s achievements,
and one of the most magnificent religious buildings
in the Roman world.
The central sanctuary was constructed from massive
blocks of masonry and many parts of it were overlaid
with gold and silver
PRINCESS JOANNA C. JUBANE | BSMLS – 1C
TEMPLE COURTS
HOLY OF HOLIES:
It is the most sacred space of the temple where the
stone of the Ark of the Covenant is placed, and the
presence of the Lord is believed to reside.
The high priest, the head of the temple, was the only
person who can visit the Holy of Holies once a year.
COURT OF ISRAELITES:
It is the place where lay Jewish male can assist the
priest at the services.
COURT OF PRIESTS:
It is where the Jewish priests make their ritual at the
altar of sacrifice.
COURT OF WOMEN:
It is only intended for Jewish women. If it happens
that a non-Jew enters this court, he/ she could be
punished, even with the sentence of death (Acts
21:28-30)
COURT OF GENTILES:
Fifteen steps of the staircase away from the court
for women lies the court for Gentiles. Such portion of
the temple is meant for buying and selling. (Mark
11:15)
JESUS AND THE TEMPLE
In relation to Jesus the temple played a significant
part of his life.
SCOTT HAN (2009)
The life of Jesus is closely tied with the temple. His
reverence for the sanctuary made clearest when he
saw others profaning the sacredness of the temple.
(Luke 2:22-38) Forty days after his birth he was
dedicated to God in the temple.
(Luke 2:41-51) His family made trips to the temple
for main Jewish feasts.
(John 2:13) Jesus presumably took part in the
liturgies of the temple
(Matthew 17:24) He also paid annual temple tax.
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TEMPLE DESTRUCTION FEAST of the PENTECOST

The Jewish rebellion broke out in 66 A.D., the great
temple was finally destroyed by the Romans in 70
A.D.
This event was prophesied by Jesus himself during his
public ministry (Matthew 24:1-51, Mark 13:1-27)
Fifty days after Passover, originally known as the
Feast of the Weeks, Feast of Harvest and Day of the
First Fruits. It commemorates the giving of the law at
Mount Sinai. Pentecost was later integrated in
Christian celebration commemorating the Descent of
the Holy Spirit.

IMPORTANT JEWISH FEAST FEAST of the HANUKKAH

It commemorates the rededication of the temple in
SABBATH REST 164 B.C. after it was desecrated by the Syrian Greeks,
In Exodus 20:8-11, the Sabbath Law was made and in particular by Antiochus IV Epiphanes. It is also
became part of the covenant between God and Israel. known as the feast of the lights.

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Six days CONCLUSION

you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh 1.
day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. No work
may be done then either by you, or your son, or your 2.
daughter , or your male or female slave or your beast,
or by the alien who lives with you.
Why did Jesus rebuke the scribes and the
Pharisees?
Why did Jesus broke the law of Sabbath?

Jesus must have been very accustomed with the

Sabbath observance , and conscious of its spirit.

But the religious leaders during his day accused him

of violating the Sabbath observance in several
occasions

JESUS & Sabbath Observance

In several occasions Jesus was accused of violating
the Sabbath Observance.

(Matthew 12:9-14, Mark 1:21-28) When Jesus cured

the sick and exorcised Demons.

(Luke 14:1-6) When Jesus helped those who were ill,

suffering and possess by demons.

(Matthew 12:8) When Jesus claimed to be the Lord

of the Sabbath

(Matthew 2:27-28) When Jesus said that Sabbath

was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

FEAST of the PASSOVER or PESAH

From the Hebrew word pasha which means “pass
over”. Passover annually commemorates the
liberation of the Hebrews from the bondage of
slavery in Egypt when the angel of death pass over
the Israelite household, and spared their first born
from death (Exodus 12:13, 23,27)

PRINCESS JOANNA C. JUBANE | BSMLS – 1C 1ST YEAR | 2ND SEMESTER | MIDTERMS 4