“Steve Mason – From examining a range of sources, it is fair to say they were from a non-priestly group.”
The Pharisees often criticised and questioned Jesus, they tried to contradict him and prove his claims that he was the messiah wrong. They questioned Jesus for forgiving peoples’ sins. They hated what Jesus did on the Sabbath such as working and healing people. They scrutinised Jesus for helping people, and for this they were seen very hypocritical as Jesus often pointed out how if it were one of the Pharisee’s own, it would not matter if it were Sabbath day, they would help them.
Jesus – If one of you had a child or a ox that falls into a well on Sabbath day, would you not immediately pull it out?” The Pharisees remained silent. – Luke 14:1-6
Luke shown interest in the Pharisees in his gospel and characterised them in it;
JB green – “Luke is clearly interested in the Pharisees and that in his gospel, they have 3 main character traits;
Interpretors of Jewish Law (Luke 11:37-44)
Interested in promoting themselves JB Green – The main issue in Luke’s characterisation of the Pharisees is to be hypicrosy which green views not as sincerity but as failure to follow gods purposes
Their failure in Luke to recognize the identity and authority of Jesus – Jesus heals a paralytic
The Pharisees have been portrayed negatively in a sense in Luke’s gospel, however they have in some respects had positive moments in Luke’s gospel. For example they invited Jesus to table fellowship with them which was a sign of respect. They often addressed him as teacher respectively. Some had even warned him of the threats Herod Antipas made on Jesus’ life.
Banks – “it is notable too that despite pharasitic hostility to Jesus earlier in the gospel the Pharisees do not explicitly feature in the passion narrative which recounts Jesus’ trial and execution.
The sadducees
The Sadducees claimed direct descent from Zadok who was the high priest in the time of king Solomon. They are portrayed as the conservative party of Judaism, The Sadducees were priests, they were very upper class in Jewish society. They had control of the temple worship, sacrifices and finances. They did not believe in the coming of the messiah nor did they believe in any form of resurrection. The Sadducees also refused oral law. The Sadducees were also rivals to the Pharisees. The sadducees laid little emphasis on the message of the prophets. They had little support from the public and their religious beliefs and practises were not totally isolated from their political context.
To conclude, the Pharisees and the sadducees were opposed to each other and both had very different views to both politics and religion. Both groups were in ways opposed to jesus and belonged to groups that Jesus conflicted with. Each of the groups had two completely different reputations in society and they had very different social statuses.