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Writer's pictureReginald Spann

BEYOND BELIEF: The real reason why the Jewish religious leaders falsely accused Jesus of blasphemy


Many of the Jewish religious leaders falsely accused Jesus Christ of blasphemy against God because their hearts were not capable of believing in the true King of the Jews who was their own Messiah prophesied to shed His blood as a sacrifice to appease God the Father for the remission of the sins of the world.


They further refused to believe in the good news of His resurrection and ascension into Heaven where He serves as the High Priest after the Order of Melchizedek and mediates as the Prince of Peace between God and man.


The unbelief displayed by most of the Jewish men who were leaders fulfilled prophesy (Isaiah 53:3-10).


He came unto His own, and His own received Him not (John 1:11).


The Jewish chief priests and officers accused Christ of blasphemy because, in their words, Jesus was a mere mortal man, yet “He declared Himself to be the Son of God,” equating Himself with God (John 10:33; 19:7).



What is Blasphemy?


“Blasphemy” is saying something about God that is disrespectful and-or degrades his religious concepts or literature. Blasphemy can be included in speech, actions, writing, music or art.


The dictionary defines blasphemy as “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.”


Hebrew Israelite Jewish Laws Against Blasphemy


Under Jewish religious law via God’s commandments:


Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD must surely be put to death; the whole assembly must surely stone him, whether he is a foreign resident or native; if he blasphemes the Name, he must be put to death (Leviticus 24:16).





Jesus Almost Stoned to Death


The Jews were about to stone Jesus to death on multiple occasions but He always escaped.


Remember, Jesus voluntarily laid down His life, no man took His life from Him. Still, He came into the world to die by crucifixion - not by stoning - and to be resurrected (John 1:29; 10:11-18; 12:32-33).


On one occasion, Jesus asked the would-be executioner Jews for which good works of God did they seek to stone Him (John 10:24-32).


We are not stoning You for any good work,” said the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because You, who are a man, declare Yourself to be God” (John 10:33).


I Have Said, “You Are Gods”


Jesus answered their false accusations by quoting Psalms 82:6, saying “Is it not written in your law, I said, “You are gods?” (John 10:34).


He further told them that if ordinary men unto whom the word of God came were in Scripture called gods, then God appearing in the person of Jesus Christ cannot be guilty of blasphemy for saying He is the Son of God.


The full verse of Psalms 82:6 is I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.


Conclusion


Jewish leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy because of their unbelief. Jewish non-belief in Jesus as their own true Messiah was prophesied by Isaiah 53:3:


He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.


Jesus was even rejected by the Jews and almost murdered in his hometown of Nazareth (Matthew 13:54-58; Luke 4:16-30).


Still, He continued to teach in synagogues, in the temple and to perform miracles throughout Israel and the surrounding areas.


After witnessing Him performing many miracles, such as raising Lazarus from the dead and healing the blind, wicked Jews still accused Him of having a devil and of committing blasphemy.


The Gospel of John says that some of the Jews first “persecuted Jesus, and sought to slay Him,” because on the Sabbath He had healed a lame man at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.


While the Holy Bible mentions elite Jewish people like Nicodemus who believed Jesus was the Messiah, most of the chief religious leaders refused to believe in Him as the Son of God.


The high priests badgered the occupying Roman Empire's official named Pontius Pilate to allow Jesus to be crucified - believing they could rid Him forever.


However, the Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection are the heart of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the good news that will endure forever.


Long live the Gospel of Jesus Christ!


Other sources: (Mark 6; John 1:12; Hosea 1:10; John 1:11, 5:18; Romans 8:14-16)


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