The Sanhedrin played a crucial role in the Jewish community, responsible for interpreting and implementing religious laws, settling disputes, and overseeing the enforcement of Jewish customs and rituals. Its decisions held great weight and were considered binding for the Jewish people.
The Sanhedrin had several defining features. Firstly, it was based in Jerusalem and held its meetings in the Chamber of Hewn Stone
The Sanhedrin (Hebrew and Aramaic: סַנְהֶדְרִין; Greek: Συνέδριον, synedrion, ‘sitting together,’ hence ‘assembly’ or ‘council’) was an assembly of either 23 or 71 elders (known as “rabbis” after the destruction of the Second Temple), appointed to sit as a tribunal in every city in the ancient Land of Israel.
It was a religious legislative body “whence the law [Halakha] goes out to all Israel.” Politically, it could appoint the king and the high priest, declare war, and expand the territory of Jerusalem and the Temple. Judicially, it could try a high priest, a false prophet, a rebellious elder, or an errant tribe.
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The Sanhedrin In The Bible
Sanhedrin comes from the Greek term sunedrion (literally, “sitting together”) meaning council. The Sanhedrin is both a Jewish judicial and administrative body. The Sanhedrin was composed of local elites–including members of the high-priestly family, scribes (religious experts), and lay elders.
The Sanhedrin was the supreme governing body for the Jewish people at the time of Jesus. It had authority over the spiritual, political, and legal affairs of all Jews. The Jerusalem Sanhedrin was presided over by the high priest and made up of seventy-one persons consisting of three groups: chief priests, scribes, and elders. The Sanhedrin was a Jewish council of seventy-one members. They were patterned after the seventy elders that God established through Moses. In the gospels, they are called “the council of the elders.” In Judea, they were under Roman authority and could not carry out capital punishment.
The Sanhedrin was responsible for interpreting Jewish law and making decisions on religious and political matters. The Sanhedrin was also responsible for overseeing the temple and its activities. The Sanhedrin was a powerful and influential group, and its members were often wealthy and well-educated.
The Sanhedrin is best known for their part in the series of mock trials that resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus. The Sanhedrin was afraid that Jesus’ teachings were sparking disorder among the people and would cause trouble with the Roman government. So, the council leaders decided Christ must be eliminated. The Sanhedrin was responsible for bringing Jesus to trial and ultimately condemning him to death.
The Sanhedrin was a religious legislative body “whence the law [Halakha] goes out to all Israel.” Politically, it could appoint the king and the high priest, declare war, and expand the territory of Jerusalem and the Temple. The Sanhedrin was a powerful and influential group, and its members were often wealthy and well-educated. The Sanhedrin was responsible for interpreting Jewish law and making decisions on religious and political matters. The Sanhedrin was also responsible for overseeing the temple and its activities.
What Did The Sanhedrin Believe
The lawyer members of the Sanhedrin were Pharisees, experts on religious law. The Pharisees significantly influenced the Jewish citizens as attested to throughout the Gospels. They believed that a messiah was coming and encouraged the people in this belief.
The Sanhedrin members spent a great deal of time trying to discredit Jesus, but He already knew their motives and thoughts. Jesus was ready to respond, and even instruct them. But He became increasingly frustrated by their lack of real care over the people. Jesus’ anger finally spilled out in what is known as “The Seven Woes.” Located in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, these accusations put a spotlight on the failings of the Sanhedrin’s leadership.
Though Jesus meant these rebukes for the council directly, the main ideas are still applicable today. Even if we aren’t in positions of religious leadership, all of us need to keep the right heart attitudes as we serve. These woes, harsh as they sound, contain important truths about staying aligned with God.
1. Keeping others and themselves out of Heaven (v.13-14)
Danger: Making living for God into a complicated set of laws.
We must present God’s truth clearly and simply, with the hope of inviting others to join us.
2. Passing along incorrect knowledge (v.15)
Danger: Teaching faulty beliefs.
Our guidance must be based on God’s Word, so that others will be led to the truth.
3. Focusing on the wrong things (v. 16-22)
Danger: Debating about or prioritizing issues that don’t really matter.
We need to give attention to the things that are most important to God, so others will see His heart.
4. Treating some laws as more important than others (v. 23-24)
Danger: Being faithful to church rituals but lacking in works of mercy and justice.
Our worship should include acts that honor God and show His love to others.
5. Trying to look generous while taking advantage of others (v. 25-26)
Danger: Using good deeds to cover up greed and selfishness.
We must be as concerned with treating people well as we are about giving tithes.
6. Putting on a mask of righteousness to impress (v. 27-28)
Danger: Making ourselves look good outwardly, while ignoring our own inner weaknesses.
Ideally, our appearance to others will accurately reflect a strong inner life of faith.
7. Showing respect to God’s servants publicly, while actually plotting against them (v. 29-32)
Danger: Giving insincere friendship or praise to someone to hide less than kind intent.
Our views of and relationships with others need to be infused with God’s love.
Wanting Christ Dead
This group was the driving force that insured Jesus was betrayed, falsely arrested, falsely accused, unjustly judged, and condemned to death on the cross. It was members of the council who bribed Judas Iscariot with thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:14–16). It was they who, contrary to Jewish law, had Jesus arrested without a formal accusation of wrongdoing (Deuteronomy 19:15).
During Jesus’ first trial, the charge of blasphemy against God was used by the Sanhedrin council to justify giving him a death sentence (Mark 14:61–64, Matthew 26:62 – 66). Yet, when Jesus was brought to the Romans for punishment, they changed the charge against him to treason (Luke 23:1–3, John 19:12)!
It was members of the council who, when Pontius Pilate asked a crowd whether Jesus or Barabbas should be set free, got them to select Barabbas (Matthew 27:15–23).
Members of the council not only went to see Jesus suffer on the cross, they also taunted and ridiculed him (Luke 23:35–37). Members of the Sanhedrin, after they were told of the resurrection of Jesus, also paid a large bribe to Roman soldiers to have them LIE and state that Jesus’ disciples came and secretly stole his body in the middle of the night (Matthew 28:11–15).
What Was The Role of The Sanhedrin
Who were the members of the Great Sanhedrin? What kind of power did they possess? Where did they meet? Were they the driving force that got Jesus crucified?
The Great Sanhedrin (which in Greek means ‘a sitting together’ or ‘council’) was the supreme council of the Jews who met within Jerusalem’s temple in a place known as the chamber of hewn stones (although they sometimes met in the house of the High Priest). The Sanhedrin was like the U.S. Supreme Court in that they were the final authority on decisions that affected the religious and political lives of all Jews.
The council convened each day of the week except the Sabbath and the annual Biblical Holy Days. In New Testament times, the Sanhedrin was composed of seventy-one members (the High Priest, a vice chief justice, and sixty-nine general members). Only chief priests, elders, and scribes were eligible to sit on the council.
Members of the Great Sanhedrin were required to possess scholarship, modesty, strength, courage, and popularity among their fellow men. Their rulings were binding (for a time) on all Jews scattered throughout the world. However, Herod the Great and later the Roman Empire severely limited their jurisdiction.
The council is traditionally viewed as the last institution that commanded universal Jewish authority among the Jewish people. Until the time when Judea was subjected to the Romans, it had the power of life and death. In New Testament times, however, although it retained the power of passing sentences, the Roman Empire retained the right to accept or reject their verdicts and to ultimately decide to carry out penalties.
In the New Testament, the Sanhedrin are variously referred to as “the chief priests, the elders, and all the council” (Matthew 26:59, NKJV throughout) and the “chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people” (Matthew 26:3).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Sanhedrin was the supreme governing body for the Jewish people at the time of Jesus. It had authority over the spiritual, political, and legal affairs of all Jews. The Sanhedrin was responsible for interpreting Jewish law and making decisions on religious and political matters. The Sanhedrin was also responsible for overseeing the temple and its activities. The Sanhedrin was a powerful and influential group, and its members were often wealthy and well-educated. The Sanhedrin are best known for their part in the series of mock trials that resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus
