THE NEW RELIGION OF EXCLUSION.

HOW DID GOD BECOME A BIGOTTED ZEALOT?

In Jesus’ day, a handful of Jewish groups and political parties sought to govern or influence the day-to-day life of the Jews living in Palestine. Given their views, many of these groups would have taken a keen interest in the life and ministry of Jesus, and not always in favor or support.

The historian Josephus write of four prominent groups:

The Pharisees, who Jesus frequently clashed with and admonished for their legalism and hypocrisy, were fastidious about the Law and its application. As religious fundamentalists, they were often the most rigid and overbearing, maneuvering to protect their wealth and preserve their political power at all costs, even if it meant blaspheming the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:22-29) or partnering with the Romans to have Jesus crucified (John 18).

The Sadducees, also mentioned in the gospels, were a more wealthy, aristocratic, and liberal group, known for their denial of the supernatural.

The Essenes, though not mentioned in Scripture, were a third Jewish party and a more monk-like group of aesthetics and celibates who lived in the desert and devoted themselves to the study of the Old Testament.

The fourth group, and the most politically minded and feared among the Jews, were the Zealots.

In the first century, The Zealots were a notorious sect of Jewish patriots who sought to overthrow the Roman occupation of Palestine through violence, terror, and political intimidation, often resorting to murder, assassination, and militant action to further their agenda. Ironically, one of Jesus’ own disciples, Simon the Zealot, was a member of this group before being called to follow Christ.

Who Were the Zealots?

Their name, derived from the Greek work zelos, fit the Zealots’ reputation as those with a passion, zeal, or fervor of spirit.

Of course, this begs the question: what were the Zealots so fervent and passionate about?

Although they held many religious views with the Pharisees, the Zealots were known more for their hatred of Rome than anything else. It was this resentment and animus towards the Roman occupation that inspired the Zealots to become one of the most violent and aggressive groups in the region.