Page 76 - BV10

IT IS obvious to the most superficial reader of the New Testament that a fundamental dif-
ference existed between the teaching of Jesus and the Judaism of His day.

Why?

The answer is surprising!

History shows -- and the Jews themselves admit -- that their religion had drifted far away
from the simple doctrines of Scripture -- commonly called the "Old Testament." The Jews had
modified God's law and even instituted laws and commandments of their own which were, in many
instances, diametrically opposite to the precepts of Moses.

It is time we realize that Christ came to a people who had, through their human laws and
traditions, rejected the religion of the Old Testament which God had given to their forefathers.

These are the plain facts of history. It is important that we understand this if we are to com-
prehend the significance of events in the New Testament period. Christ, in effect, came to retrieve
the Jews from their apostasy -- from their rejection of the laws of God. And, He came to reveal to
them the Gospel -- the New Testament revelation -- to COMPLETE the promises that God gave to
Moses, not to do away with them!

The Divisions of Judaism

Many people have erroneously assumed that the Judaism in the time of Christ was a relig-
ion united in a common bond -- every Jew believing about the same thing -- all united into one ma-
jor Jewish denomination.

This is the first illusion that history reveals.

Judaism was divided into MANY SECTS in Jesus' day. Each had its peculiar beliefs.
One of the most authoritative Jewish writers on Judaism, Dr. Herford, tells us: "If it were possible
to analyze the Judaism of the New Testament period into all its component elements, the results of
the process would be to show HOW COMPLEX A VARIETY is summed up under that name, and
HOW FAR FROM THE TRUTH it is to speak of the Jews collectively as if they were all alike, in
respect to their Judaism" (Judaism in the New Testament Period, pp. 41, 42).

Judaism was not one unified organization. Actually, there were many religious sects com-
prising it. And, even within some of these major sects there were many "splinter" groups which
had their own ideas and beliefs. In many respects, the Judaism of Christ's time was not unlike our
own world. We have many competitive sects representing "Christianity." So likewise, the Jews
had their divisions, differing sects representing "Judaism."

Some of these sects will be familiar to readers of the New Testament. There were the
Pharisees, Scribes, Sadducees, Zealots and Herodians. However, there were many more divisions
of which we have a good deal of history. Some of these were the Essenes, the Qumran sects (who

76