Today, dismissing the Scriptures, Pharisees, Sadducees, and the death of Jesus Christ are in view. Points are shared exposing the Sadducees as a threat against the covenant people of GOD that was opposed by the ministry of Jesus, and his death upon the cross. Errors among the people could be laid to their defilement during captivity and exile, and even the latitude characterizing oral tradition. However, for those of the Temple community, there was ignorance of prophecy and the holy writings. Just as we see within present day congregations, some having great influence, who lacked humility, accounted the Scriptures an obstacle to progress and survival. Long-standing error became disguised through unquestioning acceptance, habit, and subtlety (barely visible differences; hidden shifts in meaning, purpose, and value).
Jesus identified the error of the Pharisees as hypocrisy, imbalance and exaggeration in relying upon ceremony, legal procedure, and tradition. The Savior warned his followers to be careful embracing the doctrine of the Pharisees, for it was “puffed up,” and had the appearance of godliness, yet, lacked sacred content and divine substance (e.g., forbearance, forgiveness, grace, healing, love, mercy, rebirth). Even so, the greater error was that of the Sadducees, for they refused to endorse the foundation events in Scripture that were the platform for the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. The death of Jesus upon the cross was to be more than a “simple fix” or repair of damage and wear upon the covenants of the Jews. Given the influence and politics of the Sadducees, the very foundation and infrastructure of Israel required an overhaul (see the following Scriptures, and the presentation below):
Mark 8: 14-16, King James Version (KJV): 14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf. 15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
Matthew 16: 11-12, KJV: 11 How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees? 12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
Matthew 23: 13, KJV: 13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Matthew 23: 23, KJV: 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
Acts 23: 6-9, KJV: 6 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.
The Sadducees denied prophecy, resurrection from death, revelation, and the existence of angels. Correctly understood, their belief system even denied there was a “destroyer” who passed over the homes in Egypt marked by the blood on the lintel. Their positions also imply that no Shekhinah presence actually resided over the Ark of Covenant within the Sanctuary of the Temple. (The High Priests who were Sadducees, Caiaphas and Annas, presided over the crucifixion of Jesus, and the persecution of the early church, and were certainly in a position to share testimony in accordance with their entering the Sanctuary annually to make atonement.) To this very hour there are Sadducees having influence among modern day believers, and lifting up their voices against the imparting, and indwelling of blessings and gifts from the makeup of divinity.
In effect, the teachings of those at Jerusalem declared that mankind may only serve divinity through maintaining a consecrated priesthood authorized to approach GOD by offerings, acknowledgment of sin, and blood sacrifices. Men may not contact, exchange, interact with, or serve (we may even say, find grace) as chosen spokespersons of GOD who is a spirit. That beliefs among the people endorsed healing by an angel stirring the waters of a pool there, in the Temple, was dismissed as a folk custom, ignorance, and superstition. The continuous line of prophets modeled after Moses, that had served from the time of Samuel, had ended with Malachi—more than 400 years before John the Baptist appeared. Doctrine regarding an “anointed one” or Messiah, was counted a “cultural longing” as was hope for a King and restoration of the House of David, the recurring desire for return to a simpler, “golden age.” The people only needed more enlightenment that would come from the priestly class, and their strict insistence upon the law (e.g., healing on the Sabbath forbidden, offering daily sacrifice approved).
THE GOLDEN ARROW: In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed. (Isaiah 6: 1-10, KJV)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: Jesus Under Judgment? (12/16/2015); How Could Angels Fall? (12/17/2015); Sacred Events Were Dismissed? (11/05/2015); Sight to the Blind? (07/30/2015); Christ Brought A New Nature? (07/15/2015); Ark of the Covenant? (03/17/2015); Resurrection from the Dead? (04/23/2014); Not A Matter Of Opinion? (04/24/2014); Promise of A Spirit? (11/11/2013)
Sadducees are those who do not trust that, despite time and space, through operations of the Holy Spirit, blood and truth from the cross are flowing to here and now. Their discipline and faith do not allow for such truth from the Bible as the following:
(1.) Exodus 33: 17-18, King James Version (KJV): 17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. 18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
(2.) Exodus 12: 22-24, KJV: 22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the bason, and strike the lintel and the two side posts with the blood that is in the bason; and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and to thy sons for ever.
(3.) Exodus 25: 21-23, KJV: 21 And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
(4.) 2nd Chronicles 7: 1-3, KJV: 1 Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house. 2 And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house. 3 And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
(5.) 1st Chronicles 21: 15-17, KJV: 15 And God sent an angel unto Jerusalem to destroy it: and as he was destroying, the LORD beheld, and he repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed, It is enough, stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD stood by the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted up his eyes, and saw the angel of the LORD stand between the earth and the heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders of Israel, who were clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O LORD my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued.
(6.) Luke 2: 8-14, KJV: 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(7.) Romans 10: 1-3, KJV: 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
(8.) 1st Corinthians 13: 1-6, KJV: 1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
(9.) 1st Corinthians 15: 20-23, KJV: 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.)
There is far more to be said, understood, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, (10.) Revelation 3: 7-11, KJV: 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD 