13 Controversies with Religious Leaders

The Scribes also known as the teachers of the Law were the legal specialists at the time of Jesus (Luke 5:17). They realized the popularity of Jesus’ teaching and came to investigate Him and were immediately offended by what they heard. They came from Jerusalem to Capernaum primarily to see if His teaching met with their standards. Instead of recognizing Him as their long awaited Messiah they were disturbed at what they heard. They were contemptuous of Him and His popularity as well as His perfect teaching of the Law. Forgiveness of sins was a sign that the messianic age had come (Isaiah 40:2; Joel 2:32; Micah 7:15-19; Zechariah 13:1). They knew that only God could forgive sins (Exodus 34:6–9; Psalm 103:3; 130:4; Isaiah 43:25; 44:22; 48:11; Daniel 9:9) and regarded anybody making such claims as blasphemous (Leviticus 24:16). Without recognizing who He was they simply thought that this was the most serious offense demanding capital punishment. The Mosaic Law demanded stoning in such instances (Leviticus 24:15-16). Jesus was working His way with these men toward the cross. God had obviously not revealed to them who Jesus was as he did to Peter (Matthew 16:17; Luke 10:21). This was part of God’s plan to have them work together with the priests and other Temple officials in despising Jesus to the point where they would plead for His crucifixion.