Know Thy Enemy - The Sadducees

Few groups of history are more enigmatic than the Sadducees.    

Throughout the Bible they are variously depicted as wicked and evil.
   
They are depicted as being the wealthy ruling families who controlled the High Priesthood during the time of Jesus. And therefore, they are variously “the Jews” referred to in venomous tone throughout the gospels as being responsible for his execution.    
Their name in Hebrew was tsedduqim, a name they chose to indicate that they claimed to followers of the teachings of the High Priest Zadok, who anointed Solomon king during the First Temple era.  Read the rest here