So reading through Matthew, Jesus mentions the Pharisees and Sadducees a lot. About how they are evil, both with their separate problems. So do you think the Sadducees and Pharisees knew that they were doing evil, before Jesus told them?

Like I know one of the groups does things for show but doesn't really mean any of it. Did they know that they didn't mean it? Or was it something they said that they thought they were committed to, but it didn't really sink into their hearts?

I think a lot of the people knew that what they were doing was wrong in some way, because that's how humans are built. We know right from wrong in most ways, we just choose to ignore it in most cases, too.

I'm not sure about the other part of your question. I'll have to look up some stuff and get back to you.