Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus

Overview - Few belonged in upper class; nearly everyone was lower class - Few hoped for social mobility - Slaves made 1/3 of the total population in major urban areas. Many poor were worse off than enslaved - No cure for most diseases - Everyone except jews believed many Gods - No separation of church and state

Ritual Purity - Emphasized within Jerusalem. Sick, poor, or sinners were considered unclean and couldn't participate in public life because they were impure, which meant that they were prevented from entering the temple - This was a big deal because the Temple in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus was a cultural storehouse. It was the religious, social and political center of the Jewish people

Women - Regarded as inferior members of society in the time of Jesus. The Temple, the heart of religious life, reflects this idea in its very structure - The females had their own separate court/place to worship due to the fact that they couldn't precede any further from its boundaries

Roman Occupation/Tax Collector - Jerusalem was occupied by Roman officials. Roman rulers were placed in charge of the city and had an army to support their cause - Herod was building a new temple during the time of Jesus. Herod's reconstruction of the temple was an outstanding achievement, and it was evident that Herod's use of materials, the extension of the temple and the architectural style he employed added to the luxury. Costs were high, resulted in high taxation - Ther were such ill feelings towards Herod and other Roman rulers as a result of the taxation -Tax collectors were hated because they supported Roman rule by collecting money from the people. They were also hated because they accumulated wealth by stealing from the people. The financial burdens tax collectors caused was so extensive that they were considered sinners  

Sects of Judaism Pharisees: - Largest of the Jewish Sects - Observed Jewish ritual, studied Torah and oral law - Tried to adopt Jewish law to new urban conditions. Resulted in oral law - Believed in life after death

Sadducees: - Primarily interested in maintaining own privileged position - Controlled temple (until 50 A.D) - Refused anything not written in Torah - Denied teaching of life after death

Essenes: - They thought religious observance in temple and synagogues was corrupt. Sought God in the wilderness

Samaritans: - Viewed as inferior in comparison to other sects because they worshipped differently - Accepted Pentateuch as only inspired scripture and didn't make offerings at the temple of Jerusalem - Samaritans were people of mixed descent. Mix of Jews in Samaria and migrants following Assyrian conquest of 721 BC