TD said: "Striking level of ignorance about the Pharisees who:
A. Clearly considered Jesus to be one of their own
B. Considered the lifestyle of an itinerant teacher virtuous
C. Warn him of Herod's intent to kill him.
D. Composed a fair amount of his earliest followers
E. Had held no political power since the time of Salomé Alexandra"
"A. Clearly considered Jesus to be one of their own"
A. Um, TD, did you ever read Jesus' words to the Pharisees? He called them serpents, offspring of their father the Devil. Jesus was from God. They didn't consider Jesus one of their own - they had him killed.
John 8:42-45
"Jesus said to them: “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I have not come of my own initiative, but that One sent me. Why do you not understand what I am saying? Because you cannot listen to my word. You are from your father the Devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. That one was a murderer when he began, and he did not stand fast in the truth, because truth is not in him. When he speaks the lie, he speaks according to his own disposition, because he is a liar and the father of the lie. Because I, on the other hand, tell you the truth, you do not believe me."
"B. Considered the lifestyle of an itinerant teacher virtuous"
B. The Pharisees in general did not consider Jesus to be worthy of imitation or good. When they flattered him insincerely it was in order to trap him.
Matthew 22:15-18
"Then the Pharisees went and conspired together in order to trap him in his speech. So they sent their disciples to him, together with party followers of Herod, saying: “Teacher, we know you are truthful and teach the way of God in truth, and you do not seek anyone’s favor, for you do not look at the outward appearance of people. Tell us, then, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their wickedness, said: “Why do you put me to the test, hypocrites?"
"C. Warn him of Herod's intent to kill him."
C. They weren't trying to "warn" Jesus. They were trying to scare him away because they were sick of him distracting the crowds from their hypocritical teachings. They wanted glory for themselves and Jesus was teaching truths that exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and scribes, figuratively "stealing their thunder" and means of lording it over others. That is why Jesus responded to their fake warning about Herod by alluding to the Pharisees' wicked complicity in planning Jesus' death, as well as the consequence they would face because of such hatred for God's Son.
Luke 13:32-35
"And he said to them: “Go and tell that fox, ‘Look! I am casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will be finished.’ Nevertheless, I must go on today, tomorrow, and the following day, because it cannot be that a prophet should be put to death outside of Jerusalem. Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the killer of the prophets and stoner of those sent to her—how often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her brood of chicks under her wings! But you did not want it. Look! Your house is abandoned to you. I tell you, you will by no means see me until you say: ‘Blessed is the one who comes in Jehovah’s name!’”
"D. Composed a fair amount of his earliest followers"
D. There were individuals, such as Nicodemus, from the Pharisees who became followers of Christ, but the majority of his followers at that time were from the "ʽam ha·ʼaʹrets", those who the Pharisees generally spoke of as "lowly" and "accursed" people.
John 7:45-51
"Then the officers went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, and the latter said to them: “Why did you not bring him in?” The officers replied: “Never has any man spoken like this.” In turn the Pharisees answered: “You have not been misled also, have you? Not one of the rulers or of the Pharisees has put faith in him, has he? But this crowd who do not know the Law are accursed people.” Nic·o·deʹmus, who had come to him previously and who was one of them, said to them: “Our Law does not judge a man unless it first hears from him and learns what he is doing, does it?"
"E. Had held no political power since the time of Salomé Alexandra"
E. Jesus is the one who described the Pharisees as lording it over the people, and he said those words almost 100 years after Alexandra of Jerusalem.
Matthew 23:1-12
"Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying: “The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. Therefore, all the things they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but they do not practice what they say. They bind up heavy loads and put them on the shoulders of men, but they themselves are not willing to budge them with their finger. All the works they do, they do to be seen by men, for they broaden the scripture-containing cases that they wear as safeguards and lengthen the fringes of their garments. They like the most prominent place at evening meals and the front seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called Rabbi by men. But you, do not you be called Rabbi, for one is your Teacher, and all of you are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone your father on earth, for one is your Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called leaders, for your Leader is one, the Christ. But the greatest one among you must be your minister. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
🤓😁🙂
Luke 10:26
"He said to him: “What is written in the Law? How do you read?”"
