Reinterpretation of Sabbath Conflict within the Society concerning Jesus’ Reinterpretations of
who lives under the domination of Roman Emperor. Palestine, the Jewish land, the setting where the story takes place, is under the Roman control. Smallwood
says that “Palestine came under Roman control, partial from 63 B.C. and complete from A.D. 6.” Smallwood, 1976: 1. In the gospel itself, it is mentioned many
times that the Jews are under the Roman domination. In the beginning of the gospel is m
entioned that Herod is the ruler of Judea. “Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of Herod was king” Matthew 2:1. In
Luke, it is also mentioned that “During the time when Herod was king of Judea,…” Luke1:5. Herod himself is a ruler of Roman Emperor Smallwood,
1976: 44. It can be seen also when the Pharisees ask Jesus whether to pay tax to the emperor or not in Matthew 22:15-22, Mark 12:13-17, Luke 20:20-26. Here,
it can be said that the Roman Emperor is mentioned as the responsible authority during that time. Another indication which prove that the Jews in the gospel live
under the Roman domination can be seen when Jesus is brought to Pilate to be sentenced to death Matthew 27:1-2, 11-14, Mark 15:1-5Luke 23:1-5, John 18:28-
38. It is mentioned that “They put him in chains, led him off, and handed him over to Pilate, the Roman governor” Matthew 27:2. It is clear that the Jews at the
time in the gospel do live under the Roman domination. Not only under the Roman rule do the Jews live. Many years before, even
before the birth of Jesus, the Jews was already lived under foreign rule. In 587 BC, the Davidic kingdom of the Jews felt under the control of Babylonian rule.
Many of the Jews were exiled to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar the king Grabbe, 2010: 2. The Babylonian exile was the most pathetical experience of the Jewish
people at the time Herper, 1899: 109. In 538, Babylonian rule was finally over by the victorious of Persian rule under the control of King Cyrus. Sixty years
later, the Jews in captivity were taken back to their homeland. King Darius let the people rebuild their temple which had been destroyed before by the Babylonian
armies Smallwood: 1976: 1. Two hundred years later, Persian Empire was defeated by the Greek Empire under the control of Alexander the Great
Smallwood: 1976: 19. The Greek Empire then settled the land and began to spread its culture. It was the Hellenism, the new culture which was the impact of
Alexander‟s conquest. Palmer says that: This new culture
– a blend of 1 Greek education and emphasis on the arts with 2 elements from the oriental cultures which Alexander conquered
Palmer, 2002: 1. It is mentioned that Hellenism is the hybrid culture; the mixture of the
Greek‟s and the Jews‟. The process of applying the Hellenism itself to the Jewish culture is called Hellenization Grabbe, 2010: 10. Through many tactics,
Alexander implanted the culture to the Jews. Greek culture was imposed in many aspects of their live; Greek was the official spoken language, Greek cities were
built by adopting its democratic model, Greek school was built in order to widespread the culture easily, even the Pentateuch, Torah, was translated into
Greek for the importance of imperialism Grabbe, 2010:40. From the data above, it is clear that the Jews had been under the
domination of other Empires for years. To live under the domination of other nation can be said as to be colonized. The experience they got is the colonial
experience; being subordinated, oppressed, and colonized. In this case, the writer
can say that the Jews are the colonized people who live in colonial context. From this kind of background then the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish authorities
can be elaborated more. Being lived in colonial situation like that make the Jews struggle to be free and get the independence of their nation. They do many things
in order to preserve their culture as the weapon of defeating colonial domination. The Jewish authorities, the Sanhedrin, are the parties which are responsible for
controlling the society. “…the Sanhedrin played the role of supreme tribunal and ideological power. The Pharisees, and the teachers of Law which are mentioned
many times in the gospels, are also the part of the authority. Both parties have religious ideology. The Pharisees establish the apocalyptical and eschatological
philosophies as they believe the existence of the afterlife Houtart, 1976:21. While the teachers of Law, the scribes, are the parties which have authority in
religious legislation and controlling the masses by the “penal code” in controlling
knowledge of Hebrew Houtart, 1976:21. It can be said that both these parties as the Jewish authorities have power in controlling the society through the
superstructure, the ideology of the Jews. Torah, as the holy scripture of the Jewish people is the guidance of the Jewish authorities. They teach the moral values in
Torah to people and make sure that the Jews live their life with the norms. This is actually the way the authorities preserve the culture. It is by uniting the Jews
through Judaism, the religion of the Jews. Torah, the scripture used in Judaism, contains a long history of the Jews. This is what the authorities do; to make the
Jews always remember their past. Hence, by the fact of being colonized, the Jews