Jewish Groups in Jesus' Life

This Jewish group made up the majority of the Jewish people at the time of Jesus.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

This Jewish group was militant fighters.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

This Jewish group was the wealthiest (upper-class) group and accepted the Roman occupation of Israel.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

This Jewish group was well-educated and obeyed both Torah and Jewish Oral Tradition.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

This Jewish group believed that the human heart was a battleground between good and evil, so they lived a life of prayer in the desert.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

This Jewish group believed that their Messiah was going to be a military leader who destroyed Rome in order to liberate Israel.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

This Jewish group was the writers of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

Historically, it would have been the leaders of this Jewish group that Jesus would have had the most conflict with (and put Jesus on trial before his death).

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

This Jewish group believed in angels, the resurrection of the dead, and a final judgement.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor

This Jewish group was the chief priests, who looked to the Torah alone for answers concerning faith.

• Pharisees

• Sadducees

• Essenes

• Zealots

• the poor