Sadducees rejected the tradition of the Pharisees who made a mountain of man made laws and accepted only the written law. We are told that they believed there is "no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit" (Acts 23:8). From Josephus, we learn that the Sadducees believed that the soul perishes with the body (Antiq. XVIII. 1.4) and, therefore, can receive neither penalties nor rewards in an afterlife (War II. 8.14).
The most significant mention of the Sadducees in the Gospels concerns their interview with Jesus in Jerusalem. They tried to trap Jesus with a question concerning the resurrection. In His answer, Jesus accused them of not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God (Matthew 22:29). He quoted from Exodus 3:6 the doctrine of the resurrection. The Sadducees became alarmed and decided to act (John 11:47).
Confronted with Jesus and His claims, the Sadducees were able to join with their enemies, the Pharisees, for the purpose of getting rid of Jesus. Both parties worked together for the arrest and trial of Jesus by the Sanhedrin. These religious leaders were only aware of outward actions and were ignorant of the issues of the heart.
Religion (man trying to approach God) will always differ with Christianity (God coming to man). "Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7).
