Sadducees

In charge of running the temple (priests) Composed the majority of the Sanhedrin Held the most seats on the Jewish court (the Romans gave them this power in exchange for a promise that they would keep the peace) Jesus had little interaction with this people group According to the synoptic gospels, Jesus goes to Jerusalem once, but in John's gospel, Jesus goes to Jerusalem three times Historically, the Sadducees kept to themselves The Sadducees were killed off when the temple was destroyed in 70 AD While Pharisees believed the law would save them, Sadducees clung to the Torah Thus this sect didn't accept life after death, heaven and hell, the Messiah, the soul, etc. as they weren't in the Torah

The Sadducee portion of the Sanhedrin was composed of chief priests at the temple (claiming to be descendants of Zadock, the high priest during the days of King Solomon)

Not all priests were Sadducees, but all Sadducees were priests (aristocratic)