Tag Archives: Jesus and the Pharisees

Jesus and the Pharisees: John 12:42-43

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This is our fortieth and last study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.

John 12:42-43

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Observations

There was a great tension among the Jewish leaders. Those who believed secretly dared not speak up openly because of the stricter Pharisees. So it seemed that they valued there job and position more than their faith. Their faith was weak; they still loved the praise of men more than how God regarded them.

Application

We ought to always evaluate what is more important. If we truly believe in God, we ought to show it and not be ashamed. We ought to believe as Paul did when he said, “For a I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation…”

Jesus and the Pharisees: John 12:17-19

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

John 12:17-19

Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people, because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”

Observations

The common people were amazed at Jesus’ miracles and wanted to meet Him. In contrast, the Pharisees wanted to kill Him. They were so discouraged that Jesus was taking away their popularity.

Application

Beware if those who are discouraged at people who are doing good things. For some of our leaders, it matters not what good they do. It only matters to them whether they are profiting from it.

Jesus and the Pharisees: John 11:55-57

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

John 11:55-57

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. 56 They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, “What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the Feast at all?” 57 But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him.

Observations

The people wanted to see Jesus because of His good words and miracles. The Pharisees wanted to arrest Him and kill Him. Why? Because they were jealous of His popularity among the people.

Application

Beware of the jealousy of religious leaders. Know that there is competition even among religious and Christian leaders. If you see it pray against it. It is a terrible evil.

Jesus and the Pharisees: The Raising of Lazarus, John 11:44-48

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

John 11:44-48

The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.”

45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him. 46 But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many miraculous signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Observations

This passage, the raising of Lazarus, reveals much about the Pharisees. It tells us that they were only interested in their high place in society and their popularity among the people. They needed the people to believe in them. It also tells us that they knew that Jesus was doing miraculous works, and in that they must stop Him so that they would maintain power. So it was all about their standing and power. They had to be number one. Jesus was a great threat to them.

Application

Be on the lookout for those in authority who seek power for themselves. Avoid them and confront them if you can.

Jesus and the Pharisees: John 9:39-41

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

John 9:39-41

39 Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

40 Some Pharisees who were with him heard him say this and asked, “What? Are we blind too?”

41 Jesus said, “If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains.

Observations

In these verses I think a better translation of verse 39 is… “so that the blind will see and those who think they see will become blind.” (will be humbled). Of course, the Pharisees were offended by this because they believed that they could see (understand) the Scriptures just fine; but they were spiritually blind.

When Jesus said to them, “If you were blind you would not be guilty of sin,” He meant that if they were physically blind and could not read the Scriptures, they would not be guilty, because they would have an excuse; but they were guilty because they were fully capable of reading and understanding the Scriptures. They had no excuse.

Application

If you can read and have a good understanding mind, you should do all we you to obey His word. And be always listening to Him for more insight.

Jesus and the Pharisees: John 8:12-19

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

John 8:12-19

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are right, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two men is valid. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

Observations

The Pharisees had no idea who Jesus was. They were not listening to Him. They only wanted to trap Him. I’m sure that when Jesus spoke of His Father, they quickly dismissed it. And when they said, where is your father, they had no interest in what He would say to them.

Application

The Pharisees never believed that He was the light of the world. It is up to us to believe that, and that if we follow Him we will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life.

Jesus and the Pharisees: John 8:3-11

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

John 8:3-11

3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group 4 and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. 5 In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” 6 They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. 7 When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”  8 Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

9 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. 10 Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

11 “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

Observations

The Pharisees knew that Jesus was merciful to such women, and so they tried to trap Him into doing something contrary to the law. But Jesus turned the tables on them. He appealed to their conscience, to their own sin. He got them to look at their own sin. Suddenly, they had no interest in condemning her.

Application

Jesus here by taking away her witnesses automatically frees her from the law (since the law says that in order to condemn someone there must be at least two witnesses). He forgives her and sets her on a new life without sin.

Jesus and the Pharisees: John 7:45-49

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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.

Jesus and the Pharisees: Luke 19:38-40

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

Luke 19:38-40

38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

Observations

When Jesus’ followers were praising Him as they came to Jerusalem, the Pharisees were offended. They didn’t think He deserved praise because they didn’t think He was the Messiah. But Jesus rightly did not stop their praise. He instead referred to the Psalms, saying that even the stones will praise Him (see Ps 96:11 and 98:7-9).

Application

Those that don’t believe will naturally be offended when believers praise Him. But all those who truly believe will be joyful and join the praises.

Jesus and the Pharisees: No servant can serve two masters (Luke 16:13-15)

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This is our thirtieth study. Please click HERE for an introduction to this study.

Luke 16:13-15

13 “No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.”

14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts. What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.

Observations

When Jesus set forth the principle, you cannot serve God and money, the Pharisees sneered at Jesus, because they believed that their own riches justified themselves before God. And this, their self-righteousness, was their downfall.

Application

The love of money is idolatry. Money is useful only if it is used to benefit His kingdom—otherwise it will be our downfall. Therefore, let us stay away from any thought of getting rich for our own good. Let us despise that idea.