A sect is a name given to a group of people who break away from a larger, established religious denomination because of a set of beliefs that differ in some key ways.  Many views and practices of a sect will overlap with those of the larger group, other beliefs will be distinct enough to warrant a schism or division between the groups.

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The Life and
Ministry of
Jesus Christ
Lesson 6: Jewish Sects at the Time of Christ
Presenter: Bro Damaine Franklin
Bible Way Apostolic Church
B I B L E S T U D Y S E R I E S
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Jewish Sects at The Time of Christ
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The meaning of the word “Sect”
Sect
Insect Dissect Section Intersect Bisect
Root: The Latin rot word sect means cut.
English words derived from
“sect”
creature “cut”
into three parts
cutting
apart
a “cut-”off part
of a whole
a “cutting”
between
“cut” exactly
in two

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Jewish Sects at The Time of Christ
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Religious Sects
 A sect is the name given to a group of people who break away from a larger,
established religious denomination because of a set of beliefs that differ in
some key ways.
 Many views and practices of a sect will overlap with those of the larger group,
other beliefs will be distinct enough to warrant a schism, or division between
the groups.
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Jewish Sects at The Time of Christ
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Difference Between Sect and Denomination
Christianity
Roman
Catholic
Anglican
OrthodoxChurches
Protestantism
Baptist Churches
Methodism
Pentecostalism
Sect
Differences
• A denomination is a
subgroup within a religion
that has a common name,
tradition, and identity, while
a sect is an offshoot of a
religion or denomination.
• Click for additional
differences
SDAChurches

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Jewish Sects at The Time of Christ
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Islamic Sects
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Jewish Sects at The Time of Christ
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Jewish Sects
Like most major religions, Judaism worldwide is comprised of several different
sects.
Jewish Sects
Pharisees Sadducees Essenes Zealots Herodian Multitudes
Messianic

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Who were The Pharisees?
• The word Pharisee comes from a Hebrew word meaning “separated”.
• They were an influential religious sect in the time of Christ .
• Mostly of Jewish middle class society.
• Mostly synagogue leaders and minor members of the Sanhedrin.
• They were known for their emphasis on personal piety.
• Acceptance of both the written law and the oral traditions.
• Believe that Jews should observe all 613 laws in theTorah, including the
rituals concerning ceremonial purification.
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Who were The Pharisees?
 Among the Pharisees were two schools of thought:
Pharisees
Hillelites
The Shammaites
 Strict interpreters of the
laws.
 All communication and
commerce between Jews and
Gentiles should be outlawed
especially Romans.
 Liberal interpreters of the
laws.
 Took a more gracious
approach and opposed such
extreme exclusiveness.

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The Traditions of the Pharisees
 Evolving over the centuries, the Pharisaic traditions had the effect of
adding to God’s Word, which is forbidden (Deuteronomy 4:2).
 The belief that God controls all things is a central tenet of the pharisaic
tradition, but individual decisions also have an impact on the course of
life.
Scripture references: Luk_7:37&39, Luk_11:38 & 42 Luk_18:11,
Act_5:34, Mat 15:1-2,
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Relationship Between Scribes and Pharisee
 The scribes and Pharisees were two largely distinct groups, though presumably some
scribes were Pharisees. Their role and profession were to write and perform tasks
that were administrative such as draft legal documents either for marriage, divorce,
loans, inheritance, the sale of land, etc.). On the other hand The Pharisees were
known to be religious and political leaders of the elite class who had a hold over the
imposition of the written text such as the Mishna and the Gemara.

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Jesus Encounters with the Scribes/Pharisees
 In the Gospels, the apostle Mark sees scribes as Jesus' main adversaries, where as in
Matthews Gospel they were Pharisees.
Marks Gospel
The scribes would often
challenge Jesus’s Ministry
• Mark 2:6-8 & 16
• Mark 3:6 & 22-23
Matthews Gospel
The Pharisees question Jesus
methodology.
• Matthew 9:11
• Matthew 12:1-2
• Plot to kill Jesus 12:14
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Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
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The Seven Woes Against the Scribes and Pharisees: Matthew 23:1-36
 Introduction: admonition to respect those in authority but do not emulate their ways.
 Woe 1: Keeping people out of God's kingdom (vs. 23)
 Woe 2: Taking advantage of widows (vs. 14)
 Woe 3: Misleading men into eternal destruction (vs. 15)
 Woe 4: Covetous of wordily things (vs. 16-22)
 Woe 5: Refusing to show compassion vs. (23-24)

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Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
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The Seven Woes Against the Scribes and Pharisees: Matthew 23:1-33
 Woe 6: Inwardly corrupt vs. 25-28
 Woe 7: Afflicting the righteous vs. 29-33
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The Effects of Pharisee-ism
Religious leaders adding to Gods laws
making it a heavy cumbersome burden.
Salvation
Us
Matthew 11:28–30 Jesus
said, “Come to me, all

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The End
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References
1. Oxford Bibliographies https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/obo-
9780195393361/obo-9780195393361-0186.xml
2. Jewish Learning https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-sects/
3. Oxford Biblical Studies http://www.oxfordbiblicalstudies.com/article/opr/t94/e1462
4. Who Were the Pharisees? The Beginner’s Guide https://overviewbible.com/pharisees/