Ben Wilson

rebuilding and enlarging the temple in Jerusalem, and building public baths, aqueducts, and what we would call shopping centers in half a dozen cities, as well as a ring of powerful fortresses, he was a benefactor of the Jews on a colossal scale. But he was not popular among them.

rebuilding and enlarging the temple in Jerusalem, and building public baths, aqueducts, and what we would call shopping centers in half a dozen cities, as well as a ring of powerful fortresses, he was a benefactor of the Jews on a colossal scale. But he was not popular among them.

Only half Jewish by birth and wholly Greek in his cultural tastes, he was regarded as heretical by the Jewish religious authorities for sponsoring Greek-style games, theaters, and music. He also had numerous wives and concubines, some of them Gentiles, and sired many children.

Only half Jewish by birth and wholly Greek in his cultural tastes, he was regarded as heretical by the Jewish religious authorities for sponsoring Greek-style games, theaters, and music. He also had numerous wives and concubines, some of them Gentiles, and sired many children.

Suspicious and cruel, he slaughtered over 40 of his wives, children, and close relatives, often in circumstances of peculiar atrocity, for conspiracies, real or imaginary, against his rule in person. As his reign drew to a close, the last year of his life was the year of Jesus' birth, his suspicions increased, and an atmosphere of paranoia prevailed at his court.

Suspicious and cruel, he slaughtered over 40 of his wives, children, and close relatives, often in circumstances of peculiar atrocity, for conspiracies, real or imaginary, against his rule in person. As his reign drew to a close, the last year of his life was the year of Jesus' birth, his suspicions increased, and an atmosphere of paranoia prevailed at his court.

Okay, so again, the Romans, Herod, yes, they're creating this very prosperous, culturally rich, entertaining world, but it's threatening to religious authorities. It's threatening to traditional ways of life. N.T. Wright says that the Hellenistic setting formed a perpetual cultural and religious threat to the Jews, every bit as powerful as any political danger.

Okay, so again, the Romans, Herod, yes, they're creating this very prosperous, culturally rich, entertaining world, but it's threatening to religious authorities. It's threatening to traditional ways of life. N.T. Wright says that the Hellenistic setting formed a perpetual cultural and religious threat to the Jews, every bit as powerful as any political danger.

Okay, so I think you can make a pretty good comparison between then and now. I think Judaism at the turn of the millennium was in a similar place that Christianity is in right now. It's sort of obviously in decline and in need of reform. But the question is, what direction will that reform take? There are the rainbow flag denominations trying to make Christianity now more liberal.

Okay, so I think you can make a pretty good comparison between then and now. I think Judaism at the turn of the millennium was in a similar place that Christianity is in right now. It's sort of obviously in decline and in need of reform. But the question is, what direction will that reform take? There are the rainbow flag denominations trying to make Christianity now more liberal.

And then you have the rise of consciously reactionary Christian movements as well. So the question at the time of Jesus is, does Judaism adapt or resist? Herod and the Sadducees, okay, that's the religious movement that sort of validated his rule. They represented those who wanted to adapt, okay, to become more Greek.

And then you have the rise of consciously reactionary Christian movements as well. So the question at the time of Jesus is, does Judaism adapt or resist? Herod and the Sadducees, okay, that's the religious movement that sort of validated his rule. They represented those who wanted to adapt, okay, to become more Greek.

For those who wanted to resist, the Pharisees was the religious group that represented them, and the Messiah is their great hope. A great man who will come and sweep away Roman rule and set up an independent Jewish religious kingdom and usher in a golden age of righteousness and freedom. Okay, so you have all these movements that are preparing for the Messiah and Israel's restoration.

For those who wanted to resist, the Pharisees was the religious group that represented them, and the Messiah is their great hope. A great man who will come and sweep away Roman rule and set up an independent Jewish religious kingdom and usher in a golden age of righteousness and freedom. Okay, so you have all these movements that are preparing for the Messiah and Israel's restoration.

And the Pharisees are the biggest one. They want to prepare the people, make them more holy in preparation for the coming of this Messiah. They think, okay, the reason that the Messiah hasn't come to free us yet and that we're still subjected by the Romans is because we're not righteous enough.

And the Pharisees are the biggest one. They want to prepare the people, make them more holy in preparation for the coming of this Messiah. They think, okay, the reason that the Messiah hasn't come to free us yet and that we're still subjected by the Romans is because we're not righteous enough.

So they're very intense about helping people observe the minutia of every Mosaic law to assure that everyone is in constant compliance with religious rules and protocols. So this is where rabbinic Judaism actually comes from. Judaism before this time period was a little less hardcore about their rules, but the Pharisees are kind of the ones who changed that.

So they're very intense about helping people observe the minutia of every Mosaic law to assure that everyone is in constant compliance with religious rules and protocols. So this is where rabbinic Judaism actually comes from. Judaism before this time period was a little less hardcore about their rules, but the Pharisees are kind of the ones who changed that.

So the Pharisees are not the only Jews who are waiting and looking for a Messiah, but they are the most prominent sect that takes this attitude, and they are the most relevant to our story. So this is the world that Jesus is born into.

So the Pharisees are not the only Jews who are waiting and looking for a Messiah, but they are the most prominent sect that takes this attitude, and they are the most relevant to our story. So this is the world that Jesus is born into.