My impression of a first century synagogue is that it is a dry, boring, ritualistic, and legalistic place—with the men on one side and the women on the other side, and the Gentiles somewhere in the back, while the scribes and the Pharisees took the seats of honor (Matt 23:6; “The bench that was in front of the ‘ark’ containing the sacred scrolls. Those who sat there could be seen by all the worshipers in the synagogue” [TNIV Study Bible, p. 1698]).
Yet this is the place that Jesus made it his custom to attend (Luke 4:16). So why did he attend so regularly? I believe Jesus attended synagogue worship because he was a faithful Jew, and not because he was particularly impressed with life in the synagogue.
More like a liberator among a bunch of legalists…
Remember too, synagogues were like a community center where more than just a sabbath service took place such as recreation, education, feasts and the like. It was the centerpiece of Jewish life.
A number of years ago I attended a synagogue here in my city to hear an author of a book. I was amazed at what I saw. We, as visitors sat toward the back on hard folding chairs on a cold cement floor covered with tile, while the Jews sat on very comfortable seats on a carpeted floor and their officials on stage in luxury. I think it was similar in Jesus day — that’s why He taught so harshly against these differences.
Brian, I don’t think Jesus was pleased with synagogue life in his day.
Yes, the centerpiece of Jewish life, but Jesus brought a revolution with him.
Iris, thanks for sharing that vivid experience. Yes, there’s no way Jesus would have been pleased with that as an ideal.
He was somewhat counterculture.
Why do you think that Jesus wasn’t pleased with the synagogue life of his day? I think you might be painting with too broad a brush here.
I agree Nick.
I have no idea where you’ve come up with this idea TC, care to shed some light? I tend to agree with Brian, but I don’t have anything to back up my opinion.
Why do you think that Jesus wasn’t pleased with the synagogue life of his day? I think you might be painting with too broad a brush here.
Nick, maybe too broad a brush, but he certainly didn’t think too highly of the scribes and Pharisees, who were the elite of the synagogue life.
I have no idea where you’ve come up with this idea TC, care to shed some light? I tend to agree with Brian, but I don’t have anything to back up my opinion.
Nathan, look at who were in the synagogues! Sure synagogue life was important! But Jesus seems to me as counter-synagogue life.
I might be wrong.
Hmm, I wonder if there are any reliable resources that shed light on the synagogue culture then?
TC: That’s exactly why I thought you were painting with too broad a brush. It wasn’t “synagogue life” that Jesus had the problem with, it was with the hypocrites and the dead religionists (i.e., certain of the scribes and Pharisees). I wouldn’t even begin to imagine that these comprised the majority of synagogue goers in the first century.
Nathan, try this.
Hmm, I wonder if there are any reliable resources that shed light on the synagogue culture then?
Nathan, there are some good sources out there. Check your logos collection.
It wasn’t “synagogue life” that Jesus had the problem with, it was with the hypocrites and the dead religionists (i.e., certain of the scribes and Pharisees). I wouldn’t even begin to imagine that these comprised the majority of synagogue goers in the first century.
Nick, I misdiagnosed the issue. Thanks for the proper diagnosis.
Yeah, those “scribes and Pharisees.”