The Pharisees and Sadducees were two prominent Jewish sects during the Second Temple period, particularly in the time of Jesus Christ. Both groups held significant influence in religious, social, and political spheres, yet they differed markedly in their beliefs, practices, and interpretations of the Law.

Pharisees

The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions that they believed were handed down alongside the written Torah. They emphasized purity, tithing, and the observance of the Sabbath. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels and spirits, and the coming of the Messiah. They were often seen as the religious leaders who had the support of the common people due to their focus on personal piety and adherence to the Law.

In the New Testament, the Pharisees frequently appear in opposition to Jesus, challenging His teachings and actions. Jesus criticized them for their hypocrisy and legalism, as seen in Matthew 23:27-28 : "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness."

Despite their opposition to Jesus, some Pharisees were sympathetic to His message. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, sought out Jesus to learn more about His teachings (John 3:1-21), and later defended Him before the Sanhedrin (John 7:50-51).

Sadducees

The Sadducees were a sect that held significant power, particularly in the Temple priesthood and the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council. They were generally from the aristocratic class and were more politically aligned with the Roman authorities. The Sadducees rejected the oral traditions upheld by the Pharisees and adhered strictly to the written Torah. They denied the resurrection of the dead, the existence of angels and spirits, and the concept of an afterlife, which set them apart from the Pharisees.

In the Gospels, the Sadducees are depicted as questioning Jesus, particularly on matters of the resurrection, which they denied. In Matthew 22:23-33 , they posed a question to Jesus about marriage at the resurrection, attempting to trap Him. Jesus responded by affirming the resurrection and correcting their misunderstanding of the Scriptures: "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you: ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:31-32).

Interactions and Conflicts

The Pharisees and Sadducees, despite their theological differences, occasionally united in their opposition to Jesus. They both felt threatened by His growing influence and His challenges to their authority. In Matthew 16:1 , both groups came to test Jesus, asking Him for a sign from heaven. Jesus warned His disciples about the "yeast" of the Pharisees and Sadducees, referring to their teachings and influence (Matthew 16:6).

The Apostle Paul, once a Pharisee himself, used the theological differences between the Pharisees and Sadducees to his advantage when he was on trial before the Sanhedrin. By declaring his belief in the resurrection, he caused a division between the two groups, as recorded in Acts 23:6-10 .

Legacy

The destruction of the Second Temple in 70 AD led to the decline of the Sadducees, as their power was closely tied to the Temple. The Pharisees, however, laid the groundwork for Rabbinic Judaism, which continued to develop and influence Jewish life and thought after the Temple's destruction. Their emphasis on the study of the Torah and the oral traditions became central to Jewish religious practice in the subsequent centuries.