The document summarizes the major religious and political groups that existed during Jesus' time in Roman-occupied Israel. It describes the Romans as the ruling empire who administered the region with absolute power. Within Jewish society, there were also the Sadducees and Pharisees, who interpreted Jewish law differently, as well as the Essenes, who lived isolated lives awaiting God's return, and the Zealots, who sought to overthrow Roman rule through violence and terrorism. The document provides historical context about the tensions that existed under Roman occupation that influenced the environment in which Jesus taught.

1. T be
REMEMBERED
•Jesus of Nazareth – notes
•Encountering Jesus reading on
the world of Jesus
•The religious and political
groups of Jesus’ time

2. "Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His
disciples, saying: "The scribes and the Pharisees
sit in Moses' seat. Therefore whatever they tell
you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do
according to their works; for they say, and do not
do. For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear,
and lay them on men's shoulders; but they
themselves will not move them with one of their
fingers. But all their works they do to be seen by
men."
Matt 23:1-5

4. Religious
and Political Groups
of Jesus’ Time

6. From out of this chaos, the Roman Empire
emerged. The Romans were effective
administrators, but they considered anyone
not Roman to be a barbarian. This empire
would brook no dissent.
They ruled their world with
absolute power.

7. They were so successful, in fact,
that one third of the world lived
and died under the rule of the
Caesars—the emperors of
Rome.

8. 1. The ROMANS

9.  well-disciplined, strong army
 created roads, maintained
public order
 ruled Israel in Jesus’ time

10. Roman Rule in Israel
The Jewish people resented
Roman rule. They believed they
were capable of self-government.
The Jews hated that fact that the
Roman procurators (senior
administrators) could appoint and
depose the Jewish High Priest.

11. The People cried out for a Messiah —
the leader who would free them from
oppression.
The Jewish people wanted their Messiah to be a
political conqueror like King David of old.
Someone who would defeat the Romans. They
were not expecting a peace-loving Jesus.

12. Within Jewish society
there were many
different groups who
wanted different
things

13. 2. The

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15. The Sanhedrin—the ruling
council of Jews

16. 3. The PHARISEES

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18. The Pharisees try to trick Jesus about His interpretation of the Law.

19.  believed God was coming, but only through a
catastrophic event.
 lived strict, pure lives away from civilization
 hid their writings in seaside caves—the Dead
Sea Scrolls
 lived austere lives—avoiding luxuries, sharing
communal meals, acts of ritualistic
purification; i.e. sitting on top of a tree for
decades, or a vow of silence

20. The Dead Sea Scrolls

21. The Essene life was a life
apart. The purified
themselves in the hopes that
they would be righteous when
God returned.

22. An Essene cave

23. Modern Essenes—the Monks

24. Self-immolation

25. 5. The ZEALOTS

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27. freedom fighters and terrorists

28.  Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. (Exodus
21:24)
 And I will execute vengeance in anger and fury
upon the heathen, such as they have not heard.
(Micah 5:15)
 For a fire is kindled in mine anger, and shall burn
unto the lowest hell, and shall consume the earth
with her increase, and set on fire the foundations of
the world. (Deuteronomy 32:22)