Pharisees
Matthew 23:1
Then
Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, "The scribes and the
Pharisees sit on Moses' seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow
it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They
tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others;
but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all
their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their tefillin broad and their
tallit long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best
seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces,
and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you
have one teacher, and you are all students."
Luke 14:1 -
14
On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.... He said to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors; for they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. Then you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
One of the dinner guests, on hearing this, said to him, "Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"
Antiquities
18.1.2-3 11-13 (War 2.8.14 162-166 and Ant. 13.171-173)
The
Jews since antiquity have had three sects of philosophy peculiar to themselves,
that of the Essenes, of the Sadducees, and the third the philosophy of those
called the Pharisees; of which sects, although I have already spoken in the
second book of the Jewish War, yet will I touch a little upon them now.
Now
the Pharisees simplify their way of life and give in to no sort of softness;
and they follow the guidance of what their doctrine has handed down and
prescribes as good; and they earnestly strive to observe the commandments it
dictates to them. They also show respect to the elders, nor are they so bold as
to contradict them in any thing they have introduced. Although they
determine that all things are done by fate, they do not take away the freedom from
men of acting as they think fit; since it has pleased God to make a combination
of his council-chamber and of the people who wish to approach with their virtue
and their vice. They also believe that souls have an immortal power in them,
and that under the earth there will be rewards or punishments according to
whether they showed virtue or vice in this life; the latter are to be detained
in an everlasting prison, but the former are allowed an easy passage through
and live again. Because of these doctrines they hold great influence among the
populace, and all divine worship, prayers, and sacrifices are performed
according to their direction. In doing so the cities bear witness to all their
virtuous conduct, both in their way of life and in their words.
Sadducees
Luke 20:27/Mark
12:18/Matthew 22:23/Acts 5:17, 23:8
Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him and asked him a question.
Antiquities
18.2.4 16-17 (War2.8.14 162-166)
But the doctrine of the Sadducees is that souls die with the bodies. Nor do they perform any observance other than what the Law enjoins them. They think it virtuous to dispute with the teachers of the wisdom they pursue. This doctrine is accepted but by a few, but those are of the highest standing. But they are able to accomplish almost nothing, for when they hold office they are unwillingly and by force obliged to submit to the teachings of the Pharisees, because the multitude would not otherwise tolerate them.
Essenes
Matt. 10:5-14/Mark 6:11/Luke 9:5
These
twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: "Go nowhere among
the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost
sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, 'The kingdom
of heaven has come near.' Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers,
cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no
gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two
tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town
or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you
leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace
come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone
will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet
as you leave that house or town."
Acts 2:45
All
who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their
possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need.
War 2.7.4 119-127 (Ant.18.2.5 18-22)
The
Essenes...are despisers of riches, and so very communal as to earn our
admiration. There is no one to be found among them who has more than another;
for they have a law that those who come to join them must let whatever they
have be common to the whole order, so that among them all there is no
appearance of either poverty or excessive wealth. Everyone's possessions are
intermingled with every other's possessions; as if they were all brothers with
a single patrimony...
They have no one city, but in every city dwell many of them; and if any of the sect arrive from elsewhere, all is made available to them as if it were their own; and they go to those they have never seen before as if long acquaintances. Thus they carry nothing at all with them in their journeys, except weapons for defense against thieves. Accordingly, in every city there is one appointed specifically to take care of strangers and to provide them with garments and other necessities.
In
their clothing and deportment they resemble children in fear of their teachers.
They change neither their garments nor their shoes until they are torn to
pieces or worn out by time. They neither buy nor sell anything to one another,
but each gives what he has to whomever needs it, and receives in exchange what
he needs himself; and even if there is nothing given any return, they are
allowed to take anything they want from whomever they please.
Samaritans
Luke 9:51
When
the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the
Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his
face was set toward Jerusalem . When his disciples James and John saw this,
they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven
and consume them?" But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to
another village.
Ant. 20.6.1 118 (War 2.12.3-4 232-235)
It
was the custom of the Galileans, when they came to the Holy City at the
festivals, to take their journeys through the country of the Samaritans. On
their route lay a village called Ginea, which was situated on the border
between Samaria and the Great Plain, and at this time certain persons fought
with the Galileans, and killed a great many of them. When the leaders of the
Galileans were informed of what had been done they came to Cumanus and desired
him to avenge the murders; but he was bribed by the Samaritans to do nothing.
The Galileans, indignant at this, urged the Jewish populace to resort to arms
and to regain their liberty, saying that while slavery was a bitter thing but
that, when it was joined with direct injuries it was completely
intolerable....they entreated the assistance of Eleazar son of Dineus, a robber
who had for many years made his home in the mountains, and with his assistance
they set afire and plundered many villages of the Samaritans
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