Pharisee or Sadducee?

March 27

Read: Acts 23,24; Focus on 23:6-9

Pharisee or Sadducee?

“Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” (v.6)

Believing you will be resurrected from the dead can get you into a lot of trouble! People may think you are weird… they may think you are crazy… they may turn all out violent and be OFFENDED at the idea. Some will just shake their heads and call you “superstitious”. Our greatest hope as followers of Jesus is rooted in this very truth: In the same way Jesus was resurrected from the dead - so shall we! Jesus is the “first fruits” and example for us of what is in store. (cf.1 Cor. 15:20) Why is this idea so shocking… so provocative?

“God has set eternity in man’s heart.” (Ecc. 3:11) We have a deep rooted sense that, as humans, we were built for something more than this lifetime… more than this world. There is a longing for eternity in us. This is why death is so jarring for us. Yet there is a battle within us as well. We cannot understand eternity because we have not experienced it. The idea can be overwhelming for us. It has been placed within us by God, and we don’t know what to do with it… so we do nothing. Maybe we try to ignore it? Explain it away? This is why the topic creates such a visceral response.

You may be surprised to find out that it was the Pharisees that argued the loudest for a belief in the resurrection. They also defended that there was a spiritual realm with angels, demons, and other spirits. This is part of what made the Pharisees so unique among the Jews. Jesus actually has taught us a great deal that the Pharisees would have agreed with. Who were the ones most opposed (internally) to these ideas? The Sadducees. We see this spelled out here: “And when (Paul) had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees, and the assembly was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.” (v. 23:7-8) Do you see how they were “divided”? Look at the way they fought among themselves.

So which one are you… a Pharisee or a Sadducee? Have you acknowledged and embraced the spiritual realm, the existence of angels and demons, and the resurrection? Or have you functionally become a Sadducee and lived as if none of it is real? Paul knew this would cause an uproar! That is why he said it. Paul’s hope was firmly rooted in the resurrection. He knew there was more to him than this life. He knew that all these men could do was kill his body (which would be raised by Christ) and that they could do nothing to his SOUL. (cf. Matt. 10:28) There is a great temptation to live like a Sadducee… to brush under the rug those supernatural elements of our faith… to dismiss them. In this way, Jesus wants us to believe like a Pharisee… to strongly hold that we will be RESURRECTED and see life eternal. Be careful admitting this to others though… you may find yourself in an uproar like Paul! Love you guys. - JDP