Sanhedrin on the Sand

One of the most vital characteristics of the early church was its unity. Its members included people from a variety of backgrounds and mindsets. Despite this drastic diversity, the body of Christ was a force untainted by division.

This was not the case with the Sanhedrin. Although on the surface, they may have looked unified, there were underlying fractures that made the Council vulnerable to such things as truth. They were more about image than substance.

Members included Pharisees and Sadducees. In some respects, they were on the same page. In others, they weren’t even in the same book. The point of contention was found with the Sadducees. They did not believe in the idea of resurrection.

When Paul drew attention to this distinction, the elite, sophisticated Sanhedrin explosively degraded into a “great uproar” in which the members “argued heatedly” (Acts 23:9). Like Eutychus and Jezebel, any pretense of unity went out the window.

There seems to be only one real reason for such animosity. Neither the Sadducees or Pharisees were anchored in any kind of real truth.

Whenever people begin to sense their beliefs are built on a shaky foundation, they tend to increase their volume and their anger. For some, volume sounds like truth. When someone points out your life is built on sand, you tend to start kicking it in their face.

A wise man builds his house upon the rock. And the wise man house stands firm.

- Bret