Why Did They Really Kill Jesus?

Why did the scribes, Pharisees, chief priests, and other religious leaders have Jesus killed? Did they kill Jesus because he was blunt, rude, and unkind? Did they put Jesus to death because he was “trolling” them and they were offended by his harsh teaching? From time to time I will hear Christians suggest that Jesus was killed for being unkind. I suspect this argument is made in an effort to justify our own harsh rhetoric. So, let’s examine the Scriptures and ask, why did they really kill Jesus?

Was Jesus Harsh and Unkind?

Jesus certainly said things that were offensive to the religious leaders. Jesus questioned and challenged traditional applications of Scripture, which offended the Pharisees (Matthew 15:12). He told parables, which they sometimes understood to be about them (Matthew 21:45). Jesus even told the Jewish leadership that the devil, rather than God, was their father (John 8:39-47).

Jesus called people to repentance. He challenged the status quo. He spoke truth to power. Of course these things offended the power brokers and rocked the proverbial boat.

However, we should not see Jesus as being overly confrontational. For the vast majority of his ministry, he tried to keep a low profile. He actively tried NOT to draw attention to himself or provoke the authorities before the appropriate time. When he healed crowds of people, he “ordered them not to make him known” (Matthew 12:16).

According to Matthew, this was to fulfill what Isaiah said about God’s servant:

“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
He will not quarrel or cry aloud,
nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a smoldering wick he will not quench,
until he brings justice to victory;
and in his name the Gentiles will hope.”

Matthew 12:18-21 (Isaiah 42:1-4)

Pay careful attention to these words, “He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets.” Jesus is not depicted as someone who went around yelling or picking fights. He is depicted as, “gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

Kindness and gentleness are both characteristics of the Spirit’s fruit (Galatians 5:22-23). So, of course Jesus was gentle and kind. A person can speak truth that offends while still being gentle and kind. A person can challenge the status quo while still being gentle and kind.

If we would rather see Jesus as harsh and belligerent, rather than gentle and kind, it probably says more about us than it does about him.

What About Flipping Tables?

For some of us, our favorite image is Jesus cleansing the temple. We like to picture him as he, “Overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons” (Matthew 21:12). We think Jesus was angrily putting his enemies in their place.

This event certainly added to the reasons why the chief priests, elders, and scribes wanted to kill Jesus. However, you might be surprised why this event offended them. The direct results of the temple cleansing were:

• “the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them” (Matthew 21:14)

• “children [were] crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!'” (Matthew 21:15)

• “the crowd was astonished at his teaching” (Mark 11:18)

• “the people were hanging on his words” (Luke 19:48)

Following the temple cleansing, Jesus was not accused of doing something mean-spirited or violent. He was accused of acting without authority (Matthew 21:23). I suspect the religious leaders knew Jesus had done a good thing. He removed barriers and obstacles, which allowed the common people to come and worship God in the temple. So, why were the leaders so upset?

Matthew describes their reaction as “indignant” (Matthew 21:15), because they “saw the wonderful things” Jesus did and heard the praises of the children in the temple. Mark says the chief priests and scribes “feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching” (Mark 11:18). He was acting like his dad owned the temple and the people were flocking to him.

Simply put, the temple cleansing upset the Jewish leaders because it increased Jesus’ following. This event didn’t cause people to see Jesus as a bully. It revealed even more that he was a gentle shepherd, who would drive away the wolves in order to comfort and feed his sheep.

Why They Killed Jesus

There were many things Jesus said and did that the religious leaders didn’t like. According to their interpretation of the Law, Jesus did not properly keep the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-14). His followers broke tradition by not washing their hands before meals (Matthew 15:1-20). Jesus also made a habit of eating with “tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 9:10-13).

Furthermore, the Pharisees believed Jesus was guilty of blasphemy (John 10:31-33). They rejected his claims that God was his Father and he had authority to forgive sins. They found these claims to be ridiculous and offensive.

However, there was a bigger reason the religious leaders wanted Jesus dead. They might have tolerated someone who broke the Sabbath and defiled himself by eating with sinners. After all, Judea and Galilee were filled with such people. Even his teaching, that they regarded as blasphemous and offensive, could probably have been overlooked. However, they were compelled to deal with Jesus because so many people followed him.

The Roman Governor, Pilate, knew exactly why they wanted him dead. “It was out of envy that they had delivered him up” (Matthew 27:18). That’s the real answer, they were jealous.

Jesus showed the Jewish people mercy, grace, and love. Consequently, crowds of people loved, listened to, and followed him. Which also meant that the authority of the scribes, elders, Pharisees, and chief priests had been undermined. The leaders were also afraid Jesus might attract the attention of Rome, which could lead to conflict and their loss of power (John 11:45-54).

The Jewish leaders didn’t have Jesus killed because they saw him as belligerent, hostile, or quarrelsome. Jesus was none of those things. They had him killed because they felt like, “The world [had] gone after him” (John 12:19).

Jesus is Not an Excuse for Being a Jerk

We must stop using Jesus as an excuse for being antagonistic and rude. Jesus had the authority to speak prophetically, cleanse the temple, and know the evil in a person’s heart. However, even with all of his authority and insight, he was lowly and gentle. He was known for being loving, compassionate, and merciful.

In spite of his kindness, Jesus was rejected and mistreated. He told his followers to expect the same treatment. Being loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, and kind is not a strategy to win friends and influence people. It is not something we do when it “works” and abandon when it is no longer appreciated. We are to walk by the Spirit at all times, in all cultures, and in all circumstances.

The apostle Peter commanded persecuted Christians to never retaliate against their oppressors. He told them to bless rather than curse (1 Peter 3:9). And he went on to say:

Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3:13-17, emphasis mine

Our example is Jesus, who, “also suffered” (vs. 18). He suffered because he loved his neighbor and was faithful to his heavenly Father. At times, people might hate you for the same reasons. If they do, bless them and love them anyway.

I love you and God loves you,

Wes McAdams

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