Christians generally have believed that the Jewish Sanhedrin (Council) accused Jesus of Nazareth of claiming to be God, and that is why it condemned him as a blasphemer worthy of death. But according to the New Testament (NT) gospels, this is an error.
During the latter part of Jesus’ public ministry, the scribes and Pharisees constantly questioned him about his teachings. They wanted to “catch Him in some statement, so as to deliver Him up to the rule and the authority of the governor” (Luke 20:20).
Matthew reveals the Jews’ motive for arresting Jesus and the seventy-one judges of the Sanhedrin interrogating him. He says Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, “knew that because of envy they had delivered Him up” (Matthew 27:18).
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Author: Kermit Zarley
Keywords: God the Son, son of God, blasphemy, sanhedrin, Jewish council, Jesus before the high priest, Jesus on trial
Bible reference(s): Matthew 26:63-65, Mar 14:61-63
Source: “Did Jesus Admit to the Sanhedrin that He Was God?” The Restitution of Jesus Christ, 2008.
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.