Pharisees and Priests Plot to Kill Jesus Christ

The Gospels record that the Pharisees and chief priests repeatedly plotted to kill Jesus Christ, with their animosity escalating throughout his ministry ^{[1, 2, 4]}. This intent to destroy Jesus is explicitly mentioned early in his public life, following a series of confrontations and miracles that challenged their authority and interpretations of the Law.

One of the earliest explicit mentions of this murderous intent occurs in Matthew 12:14, which states, "But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus" ^[1]. Mark's Gospel provides a similar account, noting that "the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus" after Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath ^[2]. This incident, where Jesus performed a healing act on the Sabbath, deeply angered the Pharisees, leading them to immediately conspire against him ^[6]. Luke's Gospel adds that they were "filled with madness" and discussed "what they might do to Jesus" ^[6]. The involvement of the Herodians, a political faction, alongside the Pharisees, a religious group, highlights the broad opposition Jesus faced ^[6].

The motivations behind these plots were multifaceted. The Pharisees, known for their strict adherence to the Mosaic Law and oral traditions, viewed Jesus as a threat to their religious authority and teachings ^[9]. His disregard for their man-made traditions, such as the washing of hands before eating, and his claims of authority over the Sabbath, directly challenged their established order ^[9]. John Chrysostom notes the hypocrisy of their "murderous will" and "homicidal intentions" even as they prepared for purification rituals ^[8].

Beyond religious differences, the leaders feared Jesus's growing influence among the people. Tyndale House commentary on Mark 11:18 explains that the "leading priests and teachers of religious law plotted to kill Jesus because they feared him. His great influence among the people, the amazement created by his actions, and the influence of his teaching threatened their position" ^[10]. This fear was not merely theological but also socio-political, as a charismatic leader with a large following could destabilize their control and potentially attract unwanted attention from Roman authorities.

The Gospels also detail various attempts by the Pharisees to trap Jesus in his words, hoping to find grounds for accusation ^[3]. For instance, they questioned him about divorce, a topic that had led to John the Baptist's execution, in an attempt to incriminate him with Herod Antipas ^[11]. John Gill suggests that some Pharisees even tried to frighten Jesus out of Galilee by fabricating a threat from Herod, indicating their desire to be rid of him by any means ^[7].

As Jesus's ministry progressed, the plots intensified. The chief priests, who held significant power within the Temple system, became increasingly involved. They were particularly threatened by Jesus's actions in the Temple, such as cleansing it, which directly challenged their economic and religious authority ^[10]. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary notes that the chief priests were present at Jesus's apprehension, condemned him, and urged the crowd for his crucifixion, even following him to the cross to ensure his execution ^[5].

The ultimate goal of these conspiracies was Jesus's death. Matthew 26:4 explicitly states, "And they plotted together in order that they might seize Jesus by guile and kill Him" ^[4]. This desire culminated in the events leading to his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. The various groups, including the Pharisees, chief priests, and Herodians, despite their own internal differences, united in their opposition to Jesus, seeing him as a common enemy who threatened their respective spheres of influence and power ^{[2, 6]}.

Sources

Matthew “Matthew 12:14 (BSB) — But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.”
Mark “Mark 3:6 (BSB) — At this, the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.”
Matthew “Matthew 22:15 (BSB) — Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words.”
Matthew “Matthew 26:4 (LITV) — And they plotted together in order that they might seize Jesus by guile and kill Him .”
Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 27:40: Likewise also the chief priests,.... Who as they attended at his apprehension, and in their own council condemned him to death unanimously, and were very busy at his arraignment, examination, and trial before Pilate, and persuaded the people to be urgent for his crucifixion; they follow him to the cross to exult over him, and insult him, and to see that the execution was strictly performed: and forgetting their character, office, and education; and laying aside all humanity, decent, and good manners; instead of rebuking and restraining the populace from using him in”
Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 12:14: Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him--This is the first explicit mention of their murderous designs against our Lord. Luke (Luk 6:11) says, they were filled with madness, and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus." But their doubt was not, whether to get rid of Him, but how to compass it. Mark (Mar 3:6), as usual, is more definite: "The Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him." These Herodians were supporters of Her”
Luke (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Luke 13:30: The same day there came certain of the Pharisees,.... Who dwelt in Galilee, for they were in all parts of the country: these being nettled and filled with indignation at Christ, because of the parables he had that day delivered, the miracles he had wrought, and the several awful and striking things which dropped from him, and which they knew respected them; contrived to get rid of him, by frightening him with a design of Herod's, to take away his life, should he continue there: for this seems to be rather a stratagem of theirs, than of Herod's; though it may he, that H”
CCEL/NPNF (Eastern Orthodox) “John Chrysostom, Homilies on John & Hebrews: not come to the feast? Now both the Chief Priests and Pharisees had given a commandment, that if any man knew where He were, he should show it, that they might take Him. ” N.T. “And many went up from the country to purify themselves.” Ver. 57 . “And the High Priests and Pharisees had commanded that they should lay hands on Him.” A marvelous purification, with a murderous will, with homicidal intentions, and bloodstained hands! Ver. 56 . “And they said, Think ye that he will not come to the feast?” By means of the Passover they plotted against Him, a”
Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 7:1: One great design of Christ's coming, was, to set aside the ceremonial law which God made, and to put an end to it; to make way for which he begins with the ceremonial law which men had made, and added to the law of God's making, and discharges his disciples from the obligation of that; which here he doth fully, upon occasion of the offence which the Pharisees took at them for the violation of it. These Pharisees and scribes with whom he had this argument, are said to come from Jerusalem down to Galilee - fourscore or a hundred miles, to pick quarrels with our Saviour”
Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 11:18: 11:18 The leading priests and teachers of religious law plotted to kill Jesus because they feared him. His great influence among the people, the amazement created by his actions, and the influence of his teaching threatened their position (see 3:6; 12:12; 14:1-2, 10-11). Their response shows that reform was not enough: God’s judgment was necessary.”
Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 10:1: 10:1-2 The Pharisees’ question about divorce was much debated in Judaism, but it had a hostile purpose as they tried to trap Jesus (see 2:16, 18, 24; 7:5; 8:11; 12:13). John the Baptist was beheaded over his teaching that Herod Antipas’s divorce and remarriage was unlawful (6:18-19), and according to the Jewish historian Josephus, John was martyred close to Jesus’ current location east of the Jordan River, at Herod Antipas’s fortress at Machaerus (see 6:28; Josephus, Antiquities 18.5.2). If Jesus answered in agreement with John the Baptist, the Pharisees could indic”

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