When reading the New Testament, the Pharisees and Sadducees often appear together or in conversations with Jesus. Both were prominent Jewish groups during the Second Temple period, but each had their own beliefs, customs and sources of authority. Let’s take a closer look at who they were, what they believed and why they sometimes clashed with Jesus.
Also read: Religion of the Romans During Jesus’ Time
Who Were the Pharisees?
The Pharisees were a lay movement that emerged amid the social and religious changes of the second century BCE. They believed deeply in the Hebrew Scriptures but also gave importance to oral tradition, which explained and expanded upon written law. This commitment to both written and oral law set them apart from other groups.
- Beliefs: The Pharisees taught resurrection of the dead, angels and divine reward or punishment in the afterlife.
- Law: They valued not just the written Torah but also generations of oral interpretation and practical rules for everyday life.
- Influence: Many regular people respected the Pharisees and listened to their teachings on purity, tithing and devotion.
Jesus engaged with the Pharisees often. He often criticized their hypocrisy while also affirmed their dedication to the Law.
“For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20)
Matthew 5:20
Who Were the Sadducees?
The Sadducees were a much smaller, but wealthier and more aristocratic group. They came mostly from influential priestly families in Jerusalem. Their power was centred around the Temple, which was the spiritual and political heart of Jewish life.
- Beliefs: The Sadducees rejected teachings not found directly in the Torah. They denied the resurrection, angels or spirits.
- Law: Only the written Law of Moses was authoritative for them. They did not accept oral traditions as binding.
- Influence: The Sadducees controlled the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling council with significant religious and political clout.
During Jesus’ lifetime, the Sadducees often debated Him about resurrection. The Gospel writers record Jesus responding to some of their questions, usually with wit!
“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)
Matthew 22:29
How are the Pharisees and Sadducees Different?
- Scripture: Pharisees accepted both Torah and oral traditions. Sadducees accepted only the Torah.
- Theology: Pharisees believed in resurrection, angels and spiritual matters. Sadducees denied such things.
- Social Status: Pharisees were respected by the masses. Sadducees belonged to the elite priesthood.
- Temple vs. Synagogue: Sadducees centred life around Temple rituals. Pharisees promoted synagogue learning and purity.
Both groups had significant influence, but their approaches to God, worship and Scripture were quite different.
What Was Their Role in the New Testament?
Both Pharisees and Sadducees appear frequently in the Gospels because they were among the most influential religious leaders of Jesus’ day. They shaped public teaching, interpretation of the Law and especially in Jerusalem, the spiritual atmosphere Jesus stepped into.
Although they often disagreed with each other, they sometimes united in opposition to Jesus when His teaching threatened their authority or challenged their understanding of God’s kingdom:
“The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.” (Matthew 16:1)
Matthew 16:1
The Pharisees in the Gospels
The Pharisees are the group Jesus engages with most often. They were deeply committed to the Law of Moses and to living faithfully before God, but Jesus repeatedly challenged the way they interpreted and applied that Law.
They were known for:
- Careful rule-keeping and tradition
- Public teaching in synagogues
- Extending religious practices into everyday life
Jesus criticised them not for caring about holiness, but for prioritising external obedience over inward transformation:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.” (Matthew 23:25)
Matthew 23:25
He also warned against using religious rules to burden others:
“They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” (Matthew 23:4)
Matthew 23:4
Yet it’s important to note that Jesus’ relationship with the Pharisees was not purely hostile. Some engaged sincerely with Him. Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus seeking understanding:
“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God.” (John 3:2)
John 3:2
Jesus’ critique was not of individuals as such but of a religious mindset that could miss the heart of God while pursuing righteousness.
The Sadducees in the Gospels
The Sadducees appear less often but usually in moments connected to power, the Temple or theological debate. They were closely associated with the priesthood and Temple leadership which gave them influence in Jerusalem.
One of their defining beliefs was their rejection of the resurrection. This brought them into direct conflict with Jesus, whose teaching centred on resurrection life and the coming kingdom of God.
In one encounter, they attempted to trap Jesus with a hypothetical question about marriage and resurrection:
“At the resurrection whose wife will she be?” (Luke 20:33)
Luke 20:33
Jesus responded by correcting their theology and pointing them back to Scripture.
Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees largely disappear after the resurrection narratives. Their authority depended heavily on the Temple system. When the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE, their power base collapsed and they fade from history.
After the New Testament
After the destruction of the Temple, the Sadducees effectively vanished. Their identity was inseparable from Temple worship and priestly control.
The Pharisees, however, emphasised study, interpretation, prayer, and synagogue life – forms of faith that could survive without a central Temple. Over time, their approach developed into Rabbinic Judaism, which continues to shape Jewish life today.
Why Do the Pharisees and Sadducees Matter?
The Pharisees and Sadducees shaped the religious world in which Jesus lived, taught, and challenged long-held assumptions. Their differences reveal that first-century Judaism was diverse and dynamic.
Understanding these groups helps us:
- See why Jesus’ teaching was both compelling and controversial
- Recognise how debates about authority, Scripture, and resurrection were already active
- Read the Gospels with greater historical and spiritual depth
Next time you encounter the Pharisees or Sadducees in the New Testament, you’ll have a clearer sense of who they were, what they believed, and why Jesus’ message both confronted and transformed the religious landscape of His time.
