Sadducees: The origin of this Jewish sect cannot definitely be traced. It was
probably the outcome of the influence of Grecian customs and
philosophy during the period of Greek domination. The first time they
are met with is in connection with John the Baptist's ministry. They
came out to him when on the banks of the Jordan, and he said to them,
"O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath
to come?"
(Matthew 3:7) The next time they are spoken of they are
represented as coming to our Lord tempting him. He calls them
"hypocrites" and "a wicked and adulterous generation"
(Matthew 16:1-4)
(Matthew 22:23) The only reference to them in the Gospels of Mark
(Mark 12:18-27) and Luke
(Luke 20:27-38) is their attempting to
ridicule the doctrine of the resurrection, which they denied, as they
also denied the existence of angels. They are never mentioned in
John's Gospel. There were many Sadducees among the "elders" of the
Sanhedrin. They seem, indeed, to have been as numerous as the
Pharisees
(Acts 23:6) They showed their hatred of Jesus in taking
part in his condemnation
(Matthew 16:21; 26:1-3,59; Mark 8:31; 15:1)
(Luke 9:22; 22:66) They endeavoured to prohibit the apostles from
preaching the resurrection of Christ
(Acts 2:24,31,32; 4:1,2; 5:17,24-28)
They were the deists or sceptics of that age. They do not appear as
a separate sect after the destruction of Jerusalem.
