What were the character traits of the Pharisees and Sadducees?

Answer 1

A prominent religious sect of Judaism existing in the first century C.E. According to some scholars, the name literally means “Separated Ones; Separatists,” referring perhaps to avoidance of ceremonial uncleanness or to separation from Gentiles. Just when the Pharisees had their beginning is not precisely known. The writings of the Jewish historian Josephus indicate that in the time of John Hyrcanus I (latter half of the second century B.C.E.) the Pharisees already formed an influential body. Wrote Josephus: “And so great is their influence with the masses that even when they speak against a king or high priest, they immediately gain credence.”

The Christian Greek Scriptures reveal that the Pharisees fasted twice each week, tithed scrupulously (Mt 9:14; Mr 2:18), and did not agree with the Sadducees in saying that “there is neither resurrection nor angel nor spirit.” (Ac 23:8) They prided themselves on being righteous (actually, self-righteous) and looked down on the common people.

The main issues over which they contended with Christ Jesus involved Sabbath observance, adherence to tradition, and association with sinners and tax collectors. The Pharisees apparently thought that defilement resulted from association with persons who did not observe the Law according to their view of it. Therefore, when Christ Jesus associated and even ate with sinners and tax collectors, this prompted them to object. (Lu 15:1, 2) The Pharisees found fault with Jesus and his disciples because of their not practicing the traditional washing of hands. But Jesus exposed their wrong reasoning and showed them to be violators of God’s law on account of their adherence to man-made traditions.

The attitude the Pharisees displayed showed that they were not righteous and clean inside. Like the rest of the Jews, they were in need of repentance. But the majority of them preferred to remain spiritually blind (Joh 9:40) and intensified their opposition to the Son of God.

During the earthly ministry of Christ Jesus, the Pharisees exerted such great influence that prominent persons were afraid to confess him openly. One of such fearful ones evidently was Nicodemus, himself a Pharisee. There may also have been Pharisees who did not manifest bitter opposition or who later became Christians. For example, the Pharisee Gamaliel counseled against interfering with the work of Christians (Ac 5:34-39), and the Pharisee Saul (Paul) of Tarsus became an apostle of Jesus Christ

SADDUCEES

A prominent religious sect of Judaism associated with the priesthood. (Ac 5:17) They did not believe in either resurrection or angels. They rejected the many oral traditions observed by the Pharisees and also Pharisaic belief in the immortality of the soul and in punishments or rewards after death. In their dealings with one another, the Sadducees were somewhat rough. They were said to be disputatious. According to Josephus, their teachings appealed to the wealthy.

With reference to their religious beliefs, Acts 23:8 states: “Sadducees say there is neither resurrection nor angel nor spirit, but the Pharisees publicly declare them all.” It was in connection with the resurrection and brother-in-law marriage that a group of Sadducees attempted to stump Christ Jesus. But he silenced them. By referring to the writings of Moses, which the Sadducees professed to accept, Jesus disproved their contention that there is no resurrection.

Although religiously divided, Sadducees joined Pharisees in trying to tempt Jesus by asking him for a sign, and both groups were united in their opposition to him. Biblical evidence indicates that the Sadducees took a leading part in seeking Jesus’ death. Sadducees were members of the Sanhedrin, which court plotted against Jesus and, later, condemned him to death. Included in the court were Caiaphas, the Sadducee and high priest, and evidently also other prominent priests. Therefore, whenever the Christian Greek Scriptures speak of certain action as being taken by the chief priests, Sadducees were evidently involved. Sadducees appear to have taken the lead in trying to stop the spread of Christianity after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Answer 2

The Pharisees were the legal experts of the day, basing their interpretations of religion on both the written and the oral law. They were meticulous about keeping the law. They were no more hypocrites than any other religious folk. Some were, most weren't. They were dedicated to keeping the law. The Sadducees did not believe in the oral law. They believed only in the written law. Mostly they worked in the Temple. Unlike the Pharisees, who were not professional religious people, the Sadducees had paid positions. Because any ideas about resurrection from the dead came from the oral tradition, the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection from the dead. The Pharisees did.

Answer 3

The Pharisees and the Sadducees were two of the three major political parties in Israel during the time of Jesus.

The Pharisees were the "rightwing religious radicals" of their time, who took the old testament laws to such extremes that they had added literally hundreds of oral laws, rules, restrictions and regulations to the OT laws. These rules were known as "The Traditions". Many of them had become so involved in trying to keep every minor detail of the "rules" that they had forgotten the reason for the rules, which was to live right with God and each other. Jesus said of them that "their Traditions made void the power of God." The Pharisees accepted the same books as their sacred writings as are found in the Old Testament.

The Sadducees were an older group, that actual held the power at the time of Jesus, and were they ones who were appointing the Chief Priest. They only accepted the first five books of the Old Testament as scripture, and taught that God was the only spirit. There were no angels, no afterlife, no heaven or hell. They rejected all the other books of the OT, and all the oral traditions.

The last group were the Herodians, who were Jews who want to keep peace with the Romans, who occupied Israel at that time, and accepted Herod, the Roman's puppet king, as the rightful ruler. They were the ones who questioned Jesus about whether it was lawful to pay taxes to Caesar.

All three groups disappeared after the year 70AD, when the Roman general (and later Emperor) Titus destroy the temple in Jerusalem, and drove all the Jewish out of Israel.

Answer 4

If you look at the character traits of Pat Robertson and Jerry Fallwell and you will see a mirror image of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Answer 5

They regarded themselves as being above the people.
Even referring to them as "amharats(dirt people).
That is why Jesus condemned them. They were supposed to guide the people as leaders is regards to His people. But instead treated them with disgust.
That is why Jesus said the people were skinned and thrown about like sheep without a shepard.

Answer 6

Greed, pride, self-righteousness, bigotry, perfectionism, hypocrisy, malice, rage, murderous intent, self-sufficiency, arrogance, spiritual and emotional blindness, hard-heartedness, stubbornness, "right-fighting", black and white thinking, lack of faith and trust, self-promotion.

They also engaged in idolatry, in the sense that they loved and worshiped their own positions of authority more than God, and they worshiped the temple.

Answer 7

Hypocritical, narcissistic, arrogant, ignorant.

Well, a lot of their actions and teacings imply that anyway, there were probably some that weren't that way.

Answer 8

r u a freshmen in high school? cause thats where those stuff come out

Answer 9

Bad! They did not align with God. They were detail oriented. God just wants you to be your best.