Description: Strict group of religious Jews who advocated obedience to the most minute portions of the Jewish law and traditions. Very influential in the synagogues.
Agreement with Jesus: Respect for the law. Committed to obeying God.
Disagreement with Jesus: Rejected Jesus’ claim to be Messiah because he did not follow all their traditions and associated with notoriously wicked people.
Description: Wealthy, upper class, Jewish priestly party. Rejected the authority of the Bible beyond the five books of Moses. Profited from business in the Temple. They, along with the Pharisees, were one of the two major parties of the Jewish high council.
Agreement with Jesus: Showed great respect for the five books of Moses, as well as the sanctity of the Temple.
Disagreement with Jesus: Denied the resurrection of the dead. Thought the Temple could also be used as a place to transact business.
Description: Professional interpreters of the law—who especially emphasized the traditions. Many scribes were Pharisees.
Agreement with Jesus: Respect for the law, belief in the resurrection of the dead, committed to obeying God’s will.
Disagreement with Jesus: Denied Jesus’ authority to reinterpret the law. Rejected Jesus as Messiah because he did not obey all of their traditions.
Description: A Jewish political party of King Herod’s supporters.
Agreement with Jesus: Unknown. In the Gospels they tried to trap Jesus with questions and plotted to kill him.
Disagreement with Jesus: Afraid of Jesus causing political instability. They saw Jesus as a threat to their political future at a time when they were trying to regain from Rome some of their lost political power.
Description: A fiercely dedicated group of Jewish patriots determined to end Roman rule in Israel.
Agreement with Jesus: Concerned about the future of Israel. Believed in the Messiah but did not recognize Jesus as the one sent by God.
Disagreement with Jesus: Believed that the Messiah must be a political leader who would deliver Israel from Roman occupation.
Description: Jewish monastic group practicing ritual purity and personal holiness.
Agreement with Jesus: Emphasized justice, honesty, commitment.
Disagreement with Jesus: Believed ceremonial rituals made them righteous.