Did the Pharisees Try to Stone Jesus?
The relationship between Jesus and the Pharisees is one of the most significant and complex dynamics in the New Testament. The Gospels frequently depict the Pharisees as Jesus’ primary religious opponents, challenging his teachings, questioning his authority, and seeking to undermine his influence among the people. Among the various confrontations recorded, the question arises: did the Pharisees ever attempt to stone Jesus? This article will explore the biblical evidence for such attempts, analyze the motivations and actions of the Pharisees toward Jesus, and consider the theological implications of these events. In doing so, we will seek to understand not only the historical reality but also the deeper spiritual significance of these confrontations.
The Pharisees and Their Opposition to Jesus
It is essential to understand who the Pharisees were and why they opposed Jesus so intensely. The Pharisees were a prominent Jewish sect during the Second Temple period, known for their strict adherence to the Law of Moses and the oral traditions that had developed around it. They were highly respected among the people for their piety and learning, but the Gospels often portray them as hypocritical, legalistic, and resistant to the new work God was doing through Jesus.
Jesus’ teachings frequently challenged the Pharisees’ interpretation of the law and exposed the inadequacies of their external religiosity. For example, in Matthew 23, Jesus delivers a series of woes against the Pharisees, accusing them of neglecting “the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness” (Matthew 23:23). He calls them “blind guides” and “whitewashed tombs,” highlighting the disconnect between their outward appearance and inward reality.
The Pharisees’ opposition to Jesus was not just theological; it was also political and social. Jesus’ growing popularity threatened their influence and authority. His claims about himself–his assertions of divinity–were seen as blasphemous and dangerous. This opposition escalated over time, culminating in various plots to arrest, discredit, and kill Jesus.
Biblical Accounts of Attempts to Stone Jesus
The New Testament records several instances in which Jesus’ opponents, including the Pharisees, sought to stone him. The most explicit accounts are found in the Gospel of John, which provides detailed narratives of confrontations between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders.
John 8: The Attempted Stoning in the Temple
One of the most direct accounts occurs in John 8. After a lengthy discourse in which Jesus declares himself to be “the light of the world” (John 8:12) and engages in a heated debate with the Pharisees about his identity and authority, the conversation reaches a climax. Jesus makes the astonishing claim, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). This is a clear allusion to the divine name revealed to Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14), and the Jewish audience immediately recognizes its implications.
The response is swift and violent: “So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple” (John 8:59). The text does not specify that it was only the Pharisees who picked up stones, but the context makes it clear that they were among the primary instigators of the confrontation. The attempt to stone Jesus was a direct response to what they perceived as blasphemy–a capital offense under the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 24:16).
John 10: Another Attempted Stoning
A similar incident occurs in John 10. After Jesus declares, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30), the Jews again react with violence: “The Jews picked up stones again to stone him” (John 10:31). Jesus challenges them, asking for which of his good works they are stoning him. They reply, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God” (John 10:33).
Once again, the text refers to “the Jews” rather than specifically the Pharisees, but the broader context of John’s Gospel and the synoptic accounts make it clear that the Pharisees were among the leading figures in these confrontations. Their role as guardians of orthodoxy and enforcers of the law would have placed them at the forefront of any response to perceived blasphemy.
Other Hostile Actions by the Pharisees
While the Gospel of John provides the most explicit accounts of attempted stoning, the synoptic Gospels also record numerous instances of Pharisaic hostility toward Jesus. The Pharisees frequently sought to trap Jesus with difficult questions (Matthew 22:15), accused him of breaking the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6), and conspired with other groups to destroy him (Mark 3:6). In Matthew 12:14, after Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, “the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.”
Although these passages do not describe specific attempts to stone Jesus, they reveal a pattern of escalating opposition that ultimately led to his arrest and crucifixion. The Pharisees’ actions were motivated by a combination of theological conviction, fear of losing their status, and a refusal to accept Jesus’ claims about himself.
Legal and Cultural Context of Stoning
Stoning was the prescribed method of execution for certain offenses under the Mosaic Law, including blasphemy (Leviticus 24:16), idolatry (Deuteronomy 17:2-7), and adultery (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). By the time of Jesus, however, the authority to carry out capital punishment had largely been removed from the Jewish religious leaders and reserved for the Roman authorities (John 18:31). This is why, in the case of Jesus’ eventual execution, the Sanhedrin brought him to Pilate and sought Roman approval for his crucifixion.
Nevertheless, the attempted stonings recorded in John’s Gospel reflect the intensity of the religious leaders’ outrage and their willingness to take matters into their own hands when provoked. These were not formal executions but spontaneous acts of mob violence, driven by a sense of righteous indignation at what they perceived as blasphemy.
Theological Implications
The attempts to stone Jesus are significant not only as historical events but also as theological statements. They reveal the depth of the religious leaders’ misunderstanding of Jesus’ identity and mission. Despite witnessing his miracles, hearing his teachings, and seeing his fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, the Pharisees and other leaders were blinded by their own expectations and traditions.
Jesus’ response to these attempts is also instructive. He does not back down from his claims but instead uses the confrontations to further reveal his identity. In John 10, after the attempted stoning, Jesus appeals to his works as evidence of his divine mission: “If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me; but if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father” (John 10:37-38).
The repeated failure of the Pharisees and others to seize or kill Jesus before his appointed time highlights the sovereignty of God over the events of Jesus’ life. As Jesus himself declares, “No one takes it [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18). The attempts to stone him serve as a prelude to the ultimate rejection and crucifixion, which, paradoxically, becomes the means of salvation for all who believe.
Conclusion - Did the Pharisees Try to Stone Jesus?
In summary, the biblical evidence demonstrates that the Pharisees, along with other Jewish leaders, did indeed attempt to stone Jesus on at least two occasions, as recorded in the Gospel of John. These attempts were motivated by their perception of Jesus’ claims as blasphemous and their desire to protect their religious authority. The hostility of the Pharisees toward Jesus was multifaceted, encompassing theological, social, and political dimensions.
Yet, despite their opposition, Jesus remained steadfast in his mission, revealing the truth of his identity and offering salvation to all who would receive him. The failed attempts to stone him highlight both the hardness of the human heart apart from God’s grace and the invincible purpose of God in bringing redemption through his Son. As the Apostle John writes, “He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:11-12).
The story of the Pharisees’ opposition to Jesus is a sobering reminder of the dangers of religious pride and the necessity of humble faith. It calls us to examine our own hearts, to recognize Jesus for who he truly is, and to respond with repentance and trust in the one who alone has the words of eternal life.