The Pharisees and Sadducees were the two major religious groups in the time of Jesus. The Pharisees were more religiously focused, while the Sadducees were more politically focused party. Both parties did not like each other, but they have united in the common hatred towards the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
The Pharisees was a party among the Jews that were committed to obey God’s law through the observance of religious rites and ceremonies. But they made their own religious rules as important as God. Because of their pretense of piety Pharisees separated themselves from everything non-Jewish. Very often their piety were hypocritical. The Pharisees were believers in the immortality of the soul and the resurrection of the body. Also, they believed in the existence of angels and spirits.
The Sadducees was a materialistic party among the Jews. Even though they strongly believed in the Law of Moses and Levitical purity, they rejected the traditions of the elders and did not believe in the all Old Testament as the Word of God. The Sadducees were willing to compromise their values in order not to lose their status and power in the eyes of public. They denied the eternal life and the bodily resurrection. The Sadducees were more practically minded than the Pharisees.
Scripture
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: -- Matthew 3:7-8 KJV
Observation
John the Baptist were severe upon the legalism and hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He were severe upon the Sadducees for using religion to promote their political and private life. “But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said onto them“. Further, John the Baptism used exceptionally harsh language towards these two religious groups, – “O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?“, later on used by Jesus Christ Himself (see Matthew 12:34; 23:33).
John the Baptist called people for more that just nice words and rituals, he was conditioned on repentance: he told them to change their mind and attitude towards God. John the Baptist was urging them to “bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance“. The fruits of own spiritual bankruptcy; the fruits of true sorrow and pity for failure of self-righteousness and ignorance. The fruits of true repentance proved by the way you live, as a true ministers of Jesus Christ.
Application
This is the time for your journaling. Reflect on these questions. Ask the Holy Spirit to test your faith and your walk with Christ.
Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? — 2 Corinthians 13:5 KJV
- Do you live your Christian life according to God’s word and His will for you?
- Do your family members/friends/co-workers know that you are followers of the Lord Jesus?
- Do your words and attitude towards others glorify God and make Him known?
- Are you a true minister of Jesus Christ?
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we glorify Your name Lord God. We thank You Lord for every given day and we thank You that we can live through that day knowing that the Holy Spirit is with us always. We thank You Lord Jesus that because of your death and resurrection we have a new heart and regenerated mind. We pray that our true repentance will bring forth good fruits for the glory of Your Kingdom.
We pray in Jesus mighty name. Amen
