Sadducees. This name comes from ‘Zadok’, or ‘Sadoc’, the promised line of priests in Israel who descended through Phinehas. In the gospel narratives, the Sadducees are more closely connected with the chief priests (Acts 5:17), although the office of High Priest moved between the Pharisees and Sadducees at times. During the time of Jesus’ trials, the Sadducees held the office of high priest. The Pharisees and the Sadducees together composed the Sanhedrin. A third sect called the Essenes excluded themselves from the council. Second only to the Pharisees, the Sadducees were the next most prominent sect of the Jews. Unlike the Pharisees, the Sadducees were composed of mostly the upper class. They were more exclusive, and therefore fewer in number. The Sadducees were influenced by Hellenistic or Greek culture and thinking, which is evident in some of their beliefs. There were huge doctrinal differences between the two groups as well. The Sadducees denied the resurrection, the existence of angels, and the possibility of the spirit to subsist outside the body (Acts 23:8; Matt. 22:23). These beliefs are in open contradiction to the Word of God, which they felt was subject to rational criticism. The Sadducees did believe in strict observance of the written law of Moses, but they discounted psalms and the writings of the prophets. Hence, they tempted Lord on the basis of, “Moses said…” (Matt. 22:24). They also rejected the traditions of the elders which the Pharisees held so highly. At the same time they denied or twisted parts of scripture to fit their doctrines. The chief evil of the Sadducees was the denial of the resurrection. They believed that God’s government was over a person in their lifetime, but that the soul would perish with death. They held that when the body dies, the soul is annihilated. Therefore, in their view, there is no rewards or punishments; no judgment to come in heaven or hell. For that reason, they could live without fear of eternal consequences. On the other hand, they could never know the joy of living for eternity. Paul reasoned with the Corinthians about this error, stating that “if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor. 15:19). That is why they were Sad-you-see? The Lord warned His disciples against their doctrine. On account of the resurrection, the Sadducees really came forward as the leading enemy of Christ after the cross, while the Pharisees were the leading enemy before the cross.