2. The Opposition of Jesus I. Jesus faced opposition from political leaders (Acts 4:27-28). A. Jesus was opposed by the Herodians (Mt. 22:15-22; Mark 3:6). B. Jesus was opposed by Roman authorities.

3. 1. Herod the Great tried to kill Him in His infancy (Mt. 2:13-18). 2. Herod Antipas also opposed Jesus. a. He killed John the Baptist (Mt. 14:1- 12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9). b. He sought to kill Jesus (Luke 13:31- 33).

4. II. Jesus faced His primary opposition from the religious leaders (Mt. 16:21; 20:18). A. Jesus was opposed by the religious hierarchy of the day. a. Jesus was opposed by the Chief Priests. b. Jesus was opposed by the Pharisees. c. Jesus was opposed by Sadducees. d. Jesus was opposed by the scribes or lawyers.

5. B. Jesus was opposed because He did not have a high regard for their man-made customs (Mark 7:9). a. Jesus and His disciples did not fast according to their regimen (Mt. 9:14; Mark 2:18; Luke 5:33). b. Jesus and His disciples did not observe their stringent Sabbath laws (Mt. 12:1- 13; Mark 2:24; Luke 6:2, 7).

6. c. Jesus and His disciples did not observe their tradition concerning washing (Mt. 15:1-1-2; Mark 7:1-9). C. Jesus was opposed because He did not dance when they said “Dance!” (Mt. 12:38-39; Luke 7:29-35). When they wanted to see a sign and He would not give them one (Mt. 16:1-4; Mark 8:11- 12).

7. D. Jesus was opposed because He challenged their hypocrisy. 1. John the Baptist challenged hypocrisy at the Jordan (Mt. 3:5-12). 2. Jesus challenged them regarding their traditions (Mt. 15:1-14). 3. Jesus challenged them that all of their works were done to be seen of men (Mt. 6:1-7, 16-18; Mt. 23:5, 28).

8. a. They gave alms with they had people’s attention (Mt. 6:1-4). b. They prayed when and where others could see them (Mt. 6:5-6). c. They prayed long, eloquent repetitious prayers (Mt. 6:7, 23:14). d. They fasted with long and disfigured faces so people would know they were fasting (Mt. 6:16-18).

9. e. They loved the chief seats in the synagogue (Mt. 23:6). f. They loved titles of respect (Mt. 23:7-10).

10. E. Jesus was opposed because He did not come the way in which the leaders had expected Messiah to come. 1. He associated with sinners (Mt. 9:11- 13; Mark 2:16; Luke 5:30; 15:2). 2. He did not come though their rabbinical schools (Mt. 21:23; Mark 11:27; Luke 20:1-2). 3. He did not apply their law the same way that they did (John 8:3-12).

11. 4. He did not come to establish an earthly kingdom (Luke 17:20-21).

12. F. Jesus was opposed because He referred to them in negative ways. 1. A wicked and adulterous generation (Mt. 12:38; 16:4) 2. Sign-seekers (Mt. 12:38; 16:4) 3. Brood of vipers (Mt. 12:34; 23:33) 4. Evil men (Mt. 12:34) 5. Murders of those sent by God (Mt. 21:34-45; 23:31, 34-39)

13. 6. Ignorant of the Scripture (Mt. 22:29) 7. Hypocrites (Mt. 23:13, 14, 15, 23, 25, 27, 29; Mark 7:6; Luke 11:44) 8. Sons of hell (Mt. 23:15) 9. Blind guides (Mt. 23:16, 24) 10. Fools and blind (Mt. 23:17, 19, 26; Luke 11:40) 11. Full of extortion and self indulgence (Mt. 23:25)

14. 12. Whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones (Mt. 23:27) 13. Serpents (Mt. 23:33) 14. Lovers of money (Luke 16:14)

15. G. Jesus was opposed because He pronounced judgment on the religious leaders. 1. He warned them of impending judgment (Mt. 12:38-42). 2. He uttered eight “woes” in relation to them (Mt. 23:13, 14, 15, 16, 23, 25, 27, 29).

16. H. Jesus was opposed because He warned people not to be like the religious leaders. 1. Jesus told the people that they had to be more righteous than the Pharisees (Mt. 5:20). 2. Jesus told the people not to follow the example of the scribes and Pharisees (Mt. 23:2-3).

17. 3. Jesus warned people of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees (Mt. 16:5-12). a. The leaven of the Pharisees is hypocrisy (Mt. 23:2-5; Luke 12:1). b. The leaven of the Sadducees is a lack of belief in the supernatural (Acts 23:8). c. The leaven of the scribes or lawyers is legalism (Luke 11:46).

18. d. The leaven of Herod is wickedness (Mark 8:15).

19. I. Jesus was opposed because of envy (Mt. 27:18; Mark 15:10; Acts 13:45). 1. Jesus always got the better of them in verbal debates (Mt. 22:15, 22, 33, 41- 46; Mark 12:12). 2. Jesus was very popular among the people (Mt. 21:15; 22:46; Luke 19:37- 40). 3. Jesus was being referred to as the Messiah (John 7:32, 40-44).

20. 4. Jesus had multitudes that followed Him and they did not (John 11:47-48; 12:19).

21. III. Jesus’ opposition demonstrated their animosity in several ways. A. They continually were putting Him to the test (Mt. 19:3; Mt. 22:15; Mark 10:2; 12:13). B. They watched Him carefully to catch Him in a mistake (Luke 6:7; 11:53-54; 14:1; Mark 14:1).

22. C. They joined forces to oppose Him (Mt. 22:34-40). 1. Pharisees and Sadducees (Acts 23:6-8). 2. Pharisees and Herodians (Mt. 22:15- 22; Mark 3:6).

23. D. They accused Jesus of having a demon (Mt. 9:34; 12:24). E. They tried to intimidate those who were inclined to follow Jesus (John 12:42-43). F. They sought to destroy Him (Mt. 12:14; Mark 3:6; 11:18; Luke 19:47-48). G. They plotted to kill Him (Mt. 27:1; Luke 20:19; John 11:53-54; 12:9-11).

24. H. They arrested Him with the assistance of Judas (John 18:3). I. They sought out fake witnesses to testify against Him (Mt. 26:59-60; Mark 14:56).