This is our thirty-third study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.

John 7:45-49

45 Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

46 “No one ever spoke the way this man does,” the guards declared.

47 “You mean he has deceived you also?” the Pharisees retorted. 48 “Has any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49 No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law — there is a curse on them.”

Observations

The temple guards were sent out by the Pharisees to arrest Jesus. But they did not arrest Him because His words struck at their heart. The temple guards were religiously trained Levites and so they were impressed with Jesus words, and they probably struck them as full of truth. But in contrast, the Pharisees were not impressed and hated Jesus for His words. But in truth they were deeply jealous of Him and so labelled Him as a deceiver.

Application

Sometimes the most powerful religious leaders are the most dangerous. The Pharisees were so jealous of Jesus that they exchanged the truth for lies and deception.