But no sooner were the Pharisees silenced than the Sadducees came with their artful questions, seeking to entrap the Saviour. The Sadducees were a sect of the Jews that differed materially in faith from the Pharisees. The only bond of union between the two seemed their mutual opposition to the Saviour and his teachings, and their desire to put him to death. The Pharisees placed their traditions on a level with the law of God, and frequently made them take the place of the law. Jesus had declared that they made void the law of God by their traditions, external ceremonies, divers washings, fastings and long prayers, ostentatious alms-giving and rigorous seclusion from the Gentiles. These constituted the main features of their religion. In superstition and formality they resembled the Roman Catholic church of the present time. But among them were some of genuine piety who received the teachings of Christ. {3SP 44.1}

Men aldrig så snart var farisæerne bragt til tavshed, før saddukæerne kom med deres listige spørgsmål og søgte at fange Frelseren. Saddukæerne var en sekt blandt jøderne, som adskilte sig fra farisæernes sekt. Det eneste bånd, som forenede dem, var at de begge søgte at modstå Frelseren og hans lære og ønskede at ihjelslå ham. Farisæerne satte sine sagn på lige fod med Guds lov og foretrak dem ofte frem for loven. Jesus havde erklæret, at de tilintetgjorde Guds bud ved sine vedtægter. Udvortes ceremonier, forskellige aftvætninger, faste, lange bønner, pralende godgørenhed og streng afsondring fra hedningerne var de fornemste træk i deres religion. I overtro og formvæsen lignede de den romersk-katolske kirke på vor tid. Men der var nogle iblandt dem, som frygtede Gud, og som tog imod Kristi lære.