Politics

Politics were an integral part of the life of Jesus and how His ministry was conducted. Rome controlled Galilee as well as many other regions. However, Roman soldiers did not patrol each area for a number of reasons, including the fact that the area was simply too large. Another reason was that the Romans were concerned that a dominating presence may interfere with Jewish law and custom and therefore incite riots or even a war.

Sanders points out how the political system worked and how the laws cooperated with the religions and traditions of the time. What might be considered to be minor conflicts today were significant in first-century Palestine, due in part to the fact that the law governing the land of Palestine was divine law, not separate from political systems.

Since the Romans did not rule directly over the region in which Jesus lived and taught...