What is the Difference Between Sadducees and Pharisees?

The Sadducees and Pharisees were two prominent religious sects within Judaism during the time of Christ. While they shared some similarities, such as honoring Moses and the Law, they also had significant differences in their beliefs and practices.

Sadducees:

• Were a political elite, heavily involved in political affairs, including collaborating with the Romans.
• Were more conservative in their interpretation of the Scriptures, insisting on a literal interpretation and rejecting the Oral Law.
• Focused on the Temple and its rituals, including festivals and sacrifices.
• Were more accommodating to Roman laws and Hellenization.
• Believed that the Torah was the sole source of divine authority and did not believe in an afterlife, as it is not mentioned in the Torah.

Pharisees:

• Were not an elite group, but some Pharisees were wealthy.
• Believed in both the written Torah and the Oral Law, which they considered equally authoritative.
• Represented the common working people and had the respect of the majority of the Jewish population.
• Often resisted Hellenization and adhered to the tenets developed after the destruction of the First Temple.
• Believed in an afterlife, with God punishing the wicked and rewarding the righteous in the world to come.

Both groups had members in the Sanhedrin, the 70-member supreme court of ancient Israel. The Sadducees' locus of power was the Temple in Jerusalem, while the Pharisees controlled the synagogues. The two sects were in constant conflict, and Jesus frequently encountered opposition from both groups during his earthly ministry.

Comparative Table: Sadducees vs Pharisees

Here is a table comparing the differences between the Sadducees and Pharisees:

The Sadducees and Pharisees were both religious sects within Judaism, and they had differences in their beliefs, interpretation of Scripture, social class, power base, and relationship with Rome.