Our nation is weeks from a national referendum on how society will live. People are divided, and hate-filled, but are they fact-filled, ready to accept God’s Truth when they make their choices in the ballot box? What does God say about our life choices? If we can reflect on a few thousand years of history, we will see that people have been there before. One specific time would be during the tenure of our Savior’s life on earth! He might tell us today that there were groups, all competing for power:
- The Sadducees aligned with the Roman authority to gain favor and benefits.
- Scribes were responsible for knowing, interpreting, and teaching the laws of the time, including those of Jesus. They held silent power.
- The Pharisees sought separation from Roman control to create their own religious state.
- The Zealots wanted to overthrow the Roman authority by creating a professional militia.
What were the benefits each group was seeking to control?
- Taxes (some wanted a piece of the action, to skim off what they wanted to become wealthy; others wanted them lowered, and a few wanted them higher)
- Equipping and leading the army (forcing the citizenry to pay taxes and obey rules and regulations). It’s difficult to maintain power without force when the associated ideas are not popular.
- Administering the state along with its domestic policies (This included controlling the justice system impacting the local population and interpreting the laws.)
- Representing the state internationally (primarily for stature and prestige – the Roman Emperor made all decisions anyway).
- Maintaining a favored relationship with the Roman authorities. (and the winners were the Sadducees)
We know what Jesus thought about some of these groups. Here is a quick biblical history lesson.
Jesus calls the Sadducees “wicked and adulterous” (Matthew 16:1–5). He accused them of misleading the people. On multiple occasions, Jesus also pointed out their deceitful behavior (Matthew 22:23–34; Mark 12:18–27; Luke 20:27–40). John the Baptist called both the Sadducees and the Pharisees, “You brood of vipers!” (Matthew. 3:7). Jesus condemned them for their hypocrisy. He accused them of burdening people with heavy legal demands without offering help in their lives. Jesus criticized them for performing acts solely for the sake of being observed by others. He even pointed out that, by their actions, they were closing the kingdom of heaven to people. He also repeated the charge of devouring widows’ houses and making long prayers for appearance (hypocritical public behavior for show), warning them of greater judgment to come. Jesus had come to minister to those seeking God’s kingdom, providing them with a pathway and vision for finding it. He found the hypocrisy objectionable.
Can we categorize our society today into similar groups? Let’s try!
Sadducees: They were an aristocratic class, not only conservative in religious matters but politically accommodating to the ruling powers. Today, they might represent those who attempt to hold significant social or political influence and seek to preserve their interests above all else.
Pharisees: This group was most influential among the common people. They might be compared to modern religious or social groups that emphasize doctrinal purity and moral behavior, often advocating for a return to traditional values. Jesus didn’t trust them either.
Zealots: The Zealots were a revolutionary group opposed to Roman occupation and willing to use violence to achieve their goals. They might be seen as analogous to radical political or ideological groups today that resort to extreme measures for nationalistic or ideological reasons. There is no evidence that Jesus encouraged violence in society. His only act of violence came after the sinful desecration of His Father’s House, the Temple. Even Jesus had limits.
Scribes: Scribes were scholars and experts in Jewish law, responsible for teaching and interpreting it. In modern terms, they could be equated to academics, legal experts, or intellectuals who study, interpret, and teach societal laws and ethical codes. Scribes were like our government officials today, who control local law and governance. Need a building permit, divorce, mortgage contract, or interpretation of a city code? For a small fee, they will sort it out for you. This might be compared to our bureaucracy, the invisible government we never get to vote for.
To prepare yourself for making decisions in the next few weeks, take time and place yourself in a room with Jesus. Have a conversation with your Savior (pray). He is all riled up and upset by the hypocrisy of these leadership groups, just like you. The ones He had to deal with would show off with long religious prayers. In public, they would wear expensive clothing. Apparently, during Jesus’ time, the community’s leaders had no problem with cheating widows out of their homes. And then one day, before his eyes, an actual widow comes along, one of the victims of their leadership and rulemaking. She is giving her last two pennies into the corrupt Temple system. This was a watershed moment for Jesus. It is important to pause here and understand what Jesus tells us will happen after she gives her gift.
(Mark 13:2)1NIV New International Version Translations – “’Do you see all these great buildings?’ replied Jesus. ‘Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.’”
And was Jesus right? To refresh your memory, just click on the Lostpine Study, Titus and the Siege of Jerusalem. It would come about 40 years after Jesus’ death on the cross for these same groups of people.
Now ask Jesus, what would He do? Jesus will tell you that God will provide justice for the corrupt (Mark 12:40). Jesus is also promising us that a fix will come to the entire broken justice system that is perpetuating injustice (Mark 13:2). If you find the “sport of political warfare” confusing every four years, ask yourself: what would bring such diverse groups together? What makes them set aside their differences? It is a common enemy that places at risk the shutting down of what is a lucrative business. Today, we call that politics. However, just as Jesus called it so long ago, when it hurts our nation’s people, it is just another kind of crime.
In the crucifixion showdown, the official head of the Sadducees, Caiaphas, engineered false charges against Jesus. Jesus was unjustly executed by a corrupt government, falsely labeled as a criminal and an insurrectionist. The good news is that we know the “rest of the story.” Jesus will remind you that He overcame sin and death to triumph over evil. He even forgave His accusers. Jesus will remind you that God’s kingdom is characterized by “Good News.” Finally, Jesus will assure you that those who take advantage of people will be held accountable for their actions.
As you ponder issues and choices that must be made soon, don’t forget to talk to Jesus about war, crime, human trafficking, drugs, what true justice looks like, the pain of immorality that sacrifices the unborn, and what we should teach our children about God and our world. I am sure you have your list. Ask Jesus, what would He do! And then go and make a difference in our world with full confidence that God is still in charge!
Contemplations
- How do you filter information when major decisions, such as elections, are approaching?
- Ideas to Explore: News, debates, research, mail flyers, rallies, etc.
- When you have had conflicting messages, how do you reconcile them?
- Ideas to Explore: Worry about it, do what I did last time. Research. Pray.
- Is it reasonable to use history as a guide?
- Ideas to Explore: Is history an influential source in your decisions?
- Should you consider the proverbial question: Are you better today than before?
- Ideas to Explore: Is this approach reasonable? What about changes that would make things even better than before? What would make the status quo work differently?
- Do you pray before making your decisions?
- Ideas to Explore: Both God, Jesus, and a few million other people think it helps. What’s your opinion?
- 1NIV New International Version Translations