People of Jesus’ Times
The Pharisees
Pharisees (so called from the Hebrew word “perushim” meaning separated), held that the “oral law”, or accumulation of interpretations of, and decisions on, the Law of Moses were equal in authority to the written Law (contained in the first five books of the Bible). These “traditions” had made “of none effect” many of the laws. they observed and enjoined upon others much washing of hands, garments and utensils, but neglected the cleansing of heart and mind of evil thoughts, desires and intents (Matt.23:25).
The Sadducees
The word means “just” or “righteous”. They denied the existence of an oral (or unwritten) law, but embraced some of the teaching. This developed into a denial of the resurrection and of the existence of angels (Matt.22:23). The Pharisees were thus astray on practice and the Saducees on doctrine.
The Scribes
They were condemned by Jesus along with the Pharisees. They were not so much a sect as a body of men holding an office. They were originally those who copied (a scribe = a writer) the Scriptures and were custodians of them. Later they were consulted as to their meaning and eventually they became teachers of them. Many of the Scribes therefore belonged to one of the two great branches (or schools) of the Pharisees, and therefore supported the “traditions” or interpretations of the law held by these. One is given here (Matt 15:4). Christ shows that the command of Exodus 20:12 and the spirit of the command is to honour in all ways father and mother. But they taught that a son could neglect the supporting of father and mother in order to offer a gift to the synagogue or temple. This was far from honouring father and mother.
A further tradition is mentioned in Matt 15 v.20, for the Pharisees did not eat unless they had first washed, lest they should be ceremonially unclean. Though Christ does not advocate uncleanness, he shows that the vital matter was not what entered into a man by eating or drinking, but what came from within – from the mind and heart. If the evils of v.19 were manifest in a man, then he was indeed unclean despite all washing of hands, feet or body.
The Herodians
These were a section of the Jews who supported King Herod. The family of Herod were not Jews but Idumeans – the inhabitants of Edom. They were put into power by the Romans and therefore considered by the majority of the Jews to be friends with the enemy. They were really those Jews who endeavoured to secure power and wealth by friendship with those in power. The questions they asked had therefore to do with paying tribute to Caesar.
The coins in common use were issued by the Romans and had the image of the emperor and his name and title stamped on them. This clearly showed that the coinage belonged to him (as head of the Empire) and that he could claim it. Jesus therefore confounds the Herodians by saying they should give to Caesar those things he could rightfully claim (see Rom. 13:7) but also give to God those things that belong to Him – service, obedience and even life. Christ’s question to them concerning David’s son put them, and especially the Pharisees, in a difficult position. They held and taught that the Messiah (or Christ) was David’s son and therefore according to Jewish custom was subservient. Yet David, in prophecy, called him “Lord” (Psalm 110) and therefore acknowledged him to be greater. He was truly David’s son through Mary, but greater than David because he was also Son of God.
Samaritans
The Samaritans occupied the central portion of Palestine between Galilee on the north and Judea on the south. They were of mixed origin, for in 2 Kings 17:23 & 24 we read of the taking away of Israel and the bringing in of people from Babylon (Cuthah) and Syria (Hamath and Sepharvaim). To these were sent afterwards a priest, which resulted in an adulterated worship of God. In the time of Christ the Samaritans read from their Samaritan book of Moses, kept the Passover, the day of Atonement and all the feasts of the Law, maintaining, however, that Mount Gerizim was the sacred mountain, Deut.11:29. It was because the Pharisees regarded both their race and religion as polluted that “the Jews had no dealings with the Samaritans”. Christ on the other hand had begun to teach that all might come to God; and to proclaim that He could be worshipped everywhere.
Judaisers
Acts 15th chapter opens with the statement that men came from Judaea who contended that circumcision was necessary for salvation. Because of this the term Judaiser has been applied to all those who endeavoured to bring in again the Law of Moses and make all or part of it obligatory to the Gentiles. This really implied that the work and sacrifice of Christ had not brought salvation – that it was incomplete and insufficient. It was very necessary that this should be denied. Peter had said, “there is only one name under heaven, given among men, whereby we may be saved”, and this was Jesus.
Paul, when writing to the Galatians warns them against this teaching and when writing to the Hebrews points out that if the Law had been perfect there would have been no need for another covenant (Heb.8:8). Thus Peter, Paul and Barnabas testified how God had shown that salvation had come to the Gentiles without the Law; and the early church made it clear, once and for all, that the enactments of the Law were no longer binding. Very soon it was impossible for them to be binding upon the Jews, for they centred around a temple erected in Jerusalem, and they had respect to the conditions of one land – Palestine – and temple and city were soon to be destroyed.
It was necessary, therefore, in order that the prophecies concerning the Gentiles be fulfilled (Isa.42:6; 49:6) that the Law “be taken out of the way” and “peoples, nations, languages and tongues” be recipients of God’s gracious invitation to salvation.
Bro. W. Mitchell (UK)
