This above is a map of Palestine in the time of Christ. The size of the land of Palestine is shown in comparison with the state of Connecticut. Connecticut is not a very large state; it is much smaller than New York or Pennsylvania or Ohio.
Please place the following cities, provinces and bodies of water on the map in their correct location (you may use the maps in the back of your Bible to help you):
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CITIES |
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PROVINCES Note: In John 4:3-4 all three of these provinces are mentioned. |
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BODIES
OF WATER * The Dead Sea or Salt Sea is so salty--six times saltier than the ocean--that fish die in a few minutes when entering from the Jordan River! |
The Sea of Galilee receives a fresh supply of water from the north and releases its waters to the south into the Jordan River. Fish thrive in the fresh waters of the Sea of Galilee (see Luke 5:4-9). The Dead Sea receives fresh water from the Jordan River, but it does not release its waters anywhere else. It has an inlet but no outlet. Living fish die when they enter this salty sea of death. When God teaches us from His Word, and when God’s truth flows into our lives, we should be like the Sea of Galilee which not only takes in but also flows out. We should not be like the Salt Sea which has no outlet (Matt. 28:19-20; 2 Tim.2:2; etc.). Truth should come into our lives from God and His Word, and truth should flow out of our lives as we share it with others.
During the time of Christ, what government ruled supreme over the world (John 11:48; Matthew 22:17-21)? ______________________ Who really ruled supreme over the world (1 Chron. 29:10-13; 2 Chron. 20:6; Psalm 103:19)? ______________________ Who was the Roman emperor who reigned during the time of Christ (Luke 2:1)? __________________________(He reigned until 14 A.D.). Who was the Roman emperor who reigned during the second half of our Lord’s earthly life (Luke 3:1)? ____________________ (He reigned 14-37 A.D.).
The land of Palestine during Christ’s time was first a
KINGDOM (one king) and then a
TETRARCHY (a rule of four–see Luke 3:1–Palestine
was ruled
by four men).
Herod the Great (who was an Edomite) ruled from 37 B.C. until his death in 4 B.C. In
Luke 1:5 he is called the ____________ of J______________. Who was born during the last
days of Herod’s reign (Matthew 2:1-11)? __________________ Herod died in 4
B.C. This date is a well established historical fact. Was Christ born before or
after Herod's death (compare Matthew
2:7,16,19-21)? ___________________________ This means that Christ must have been
born prior to Herod's death in 4 B.C. What do we learn about
Herod’s character from Matthew 2:3,13,16? _________________________________________________________________
He was a monster of a man.
1) Archelaus was the ruler of Judea and Samaria and Idumea. He was the oldest son
of Herod the Great, and the most important part of the kingdom was given to him. What do
we learn about his character from Matthew 2:22? _______________________________________________ (like
father, like son!) He did not continue as ruler for long. In 6 A.D. he was deposed by
Emperor Augustus. From that time on Rome sent men to rule and govern Judea. One of these
men was Pontius Pilate (Luke 3:1) who began his rule in 26 A.D. and who played such an
important part in the trials and death of Christ.
2) Herod Antipas was the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea. He was another son of Herod
the Great and he ruled from 4 B.C.-39 A.D. (see Luke 3:1). What did our Lord call this
cunning and crafty ruler (Luke 13:32)? _______________ What great man of God was
beheaded
by the command of Herod Antipas (Matthew 14:1-12)? ____________________________ Why did
Herod and Pilate, who were once bitter enemies, become such good friends (Luke 23:6-12)?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
Note: Don’t confuse Herod Antipas with Herod Agrippa I who killed
James the brother of John (Acts 12) or with Herod Agrippa II whom Paul almost persuaded to
be a Christian (Acts 25-26; see 26:28).
3) Philip was the tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis (an area to the northeast
of the Sea of Galilee)–see Luke 3:1. The city Caesarea Philippi (Matt. 16:13) was
named after Philip (and also after
Caesar, the emperor). Unlike the
other sons of Herod, he was a very just and beloved ruler. He married Salome, the daughter
of Herodias (Mark 6:22). Note: Don’t confuse this Philip with Philip Herod I
mentioned in Mark 6:17.
4) Lysanias was "the tetrarch of ___________________________" (Luke 3:1), which was a small district north of the Sea of Galilee between Mt. Herman and Damascus. He was not the son of Herod the Great.
* * * * * * * *
It was at the time of this political situation that God stepped into history "to
be the S_________________ of the _____________ " (1 John 4:14). What political situation are
you
under today? Who rules over you? Is the living God involved in the governments of the world (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Pet. 2:13-17;
1 Tim. 2:1-4)? _______ Do you allow God to govern and rule over your
heart?
The Religious Parties:
The New Testament, especially the gospel accounts, has much to say about this religious sect. The Pharisees were very "religious"– they prayed, fasted, gave tithes (one tenth), gave alms to the poor, etc. (Luke 18:12; Matthew 6:1-5). In doing all these things they thought they were __________________ (Luke 18:9) and that they were better than ______________ men (Luke 18:11) and they loved to be S_______ of (by) men (Matthew 6:5).
Concerning their doctrine and beliefs, they were basically orthodox (correct, right). They professed to believe the Bible. According to Acts 23:7-8, what did they believe in? __________________________________________________________________ Thus they believed in the supernatural and they believed in the immorta1ity of the soul (the soul never dies but will go either to a place of punishment or to a place of bliss).
The Pharisees were patriotic Jews who hoped that someday they would be delivered from Roman rule. They were very popular among the majority of the Jewish people and they won the support of the masses. They looked for a "Messiah" who would be a political deliverer and liberator. Jesus came with a message of spiritual deliverance (Matthew 1:21) and a message of liberation from sin (John 8:32-36) and He was rejected.
Another group that is often mentioned in connection with the Pharisees were the scribes and the lawyers. In fact, most of the scribes and lawyers were Pharisees. The scribes and lawyers were the "experts" in the law. Their job was to study, interpret and teach the law and apply it to every situation of life. Not only did they expound the written law (the law of Moses and other parts of the Old Testament Scripture), but they also interpreted the oral law (called "the ______________________ of the ___________" in Mark 7:5). Thus they added to the Bible their own traditions and commandments (Mark 7:3,5,7,8,9,13).
How did the Lord address the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:13,15,23,25,27,29? _______________________ This word means the person is wearing a mask to hide what is really underneath. That which is seen on the outside belies [gives a false impression of] what is really on the inside--see the illustrations Jesus used in Matthew 23:25-28. Do you think the scribes and Pharisees were delighted and flattered when they heard this woeful message by Christ as recorded in Matthew 23:13-36? _____
What great Apostle was once a Pharisee (Philippians 3:5; Acts 23:6)? __________ Who did the Pharisees seek to destroy (Mark 3:6)? _____________________ In the days of the early church, Paul, along with other Pharisees, made every effort to destroy the disciples of Christ (Acts 8:1,3: 9:1,21).
Another "famous" Pharisee was named ___________________ (John 3:1). The great need of all the Pharisees, like Nicodemus, was to be B________ A____________ (John 3:3)!
Today, can you think of any religious group that is similar to the
Pharisees? Remember, the Pharisees were religious, orthodox, self-righteous, hypocritical,
needed to be born again and they added their own traditions to the Word of God. They also
wanted to destroy those who truly belonged to Christ.
The Sadducees were not as numerous as the Pharisees but in many ways they were more powerful. They controlled the temple, the priesthood and the Sanhedrin (the council or ruling body of the Jews consisting of 70 members, most of whom were Sadducees). When the gospel accounts mention the "chief priests," this usually refers to the Sadducees.
The Sadducees were not nearly as popular as the Pharisees in the eyes of the common people. They were less patriotic and more favorable to Rome. They were more concerned about pleasing Rome than pleasing God.
The Sadducees were in many ways unorthodox in their beliefs. What important doctrines did they deny (Matthew 22:23; Acts 23:7-8)? ________________________________________________________________________________
Thus, they denied the supernatural and they believed that "souls die with their bodies." This is a denial of the immortality of the soul. Also they did not believe in hell or eternal punishment.
The Sadducees rejected the tradition (oral law) of the Pharisees and insisted that the Scripture alone is authoritative. Josephus, the Jewish historian, wrote, "The Sadducees say, only what is written is to be esteemed as legal...what has come down from tradition of the fathers need not be observed" (Ant. xiii, 10,6).
Today, can you think of any religious group that is similar to the Sadducees? Remember, the Sadducees rejected tradition and accepted the Bible alone, yet they denied the reality of hell and the resurrection and angels, etc.
Other Groups Worth Mentioning:
These were Jews who supported the dynasty (series of rulers who belong to the same family) of Herod. Their name is very appropriate because they were murderous like Herod the Great (Mark 3:6 and compare Matthew 2:16) and they were sly and crafty like Herod the Tetrarch (Matthew 22:16; Mark 12:13; compare Luke 13:32)!
These were Jews who were extremely patriotic and who wanted to be liberated from Rome even if it took violence to do so. They hated the Romans and refused to pay their taxes, etc. Barabbas may have been a zealot (Luke 23:18-19). Which of the 12 disciples was formerly a zealot (Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13)? ______________________
One of the other disciples was Matthew, the publican or tax collector (Matthew 10:3), who formerly worked for Rome. Apart from Christ, Simon and Matthew would have been hostile enemies and at each other’s throats! But the Lord is able to bring such men together to form a harmonious unit. He does the same today in the body of Christ! Compare Ephesians 4:3.
The Religious Institutions:
The temple of Zerubbabel was rebuilt by Herod the Great who was known for his splendid building projects. The Jews made mention of Herod’s temple in John 2:20. There was only one temple and it was located in the city of ___________________ (Luke 2:45-46). This was the only acceptable place where sacrifices were offered. Herod’s temple was destroyed in 70 A.D. by the Romans under General Titus. Since then the Jews have been without a temple, without a priesthood and without animal sacrifices.
Throughout the history of Israel, the tabernacle, and later the temple, was the central place of’ worship and the place where the living God dwelt in the midst of His people.
The word "synagogue" means a place where people can gather together for a certain purpose. The Jewish synagogue served as a place where the Scriptures could be read and where prayer and worship could be offered. It was basically an educational institution so that the Jews could be instructed in the Word of God.
Though there was only one temple, there were many synagogues: "For Moses...hath in ___________ _________ them that preach him, being read in the _____________________ every _______________ day (Saturday)" (Acts 15:21).
Our Lord frequently visited the synagogue and taught there (see Luke 4:16-30). When Paul went into a new city on his missionary travels, he often went first to the synagogue (Acts 17:1-4: 18:4-6 etc.).
Today the local assembly of believers is to be both a temple and a synagogue! As a temple it is the dwelling place of the living God (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; Ephesians 2:21-22). As a synagogue it is the place where believers gather together for worship and instruction and the public reading of the Scriptures (James 2:2–"assembly" is literally "synagogue"; Hebrews 10:25–literally, "not forsaking the synagoging (gathering) of yourselves together"; 1 Tim. 4:13–public "reading" of Scripture; etc.). Are you an active part of a local assembly of believers?
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