Pharisees and Scribes Plot to Kill Jesus in Gethsemane
The biblical accounts do not describe the Pharisees and scribes plotting to kill Jesus in Gethsemane. Instead, the Gospels indicate that the plot to kill Jesus began much earlier in his ministry, long before the events in Gethsemane.
The Gospel of Matthew records that the Pharisees began plotting against Jesus after he healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath. Matthew 12:14 states, "But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus" [1]. This incident is also recounted in Mark, where it is noted that "the Pharisees went out and began plotting with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus" [2]. This early plotting demonstrates a sustained animosity towards Jesus from a significant point in his public ministry. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary on Matthew 12:14 highlights this as "the first explicit mention of their murderous designs against our Lord" [6]. Luke's account of the same event notes that the Pharisees "were filled with madness, and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus" [6].
Later, the Pharisees continued their efforts to undermine Jesus, often by attempting to trap him with his words. Matthew 22:15 describes how "the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words" [3]. This strategy aimed to discredit him publicly or find grounds for accusation. John Gill's commentary on Mark 12:11 notes that the chief priests, scribes, and elders, after being silenced by Jesus's reasonings and provoked by his parables, "went together to consult what methods they should take to get him into their hands, and be revenged on him" [7]. They then sent certain Pharisees to question him [7].
The animosity of the Pharisees and other religious leaders escalated throughout Jesus's ministry. John Gill, commenting on Luke 13:30, suggests that some Pharisees in Galilee, "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," contrived to get rid of him [5]. They even attempted to frighten him by suggesting Herod intended to kill him, which Gill interprets as a stratagem of the Pharisees rather than a genuine threat from Herod [5].
The events in Gethsemane, as described in the Gospels, involve Jesus praying in agony while his disciples sleep. It is in Gethsemane that Jesus is arrested, not where the plot against him is conceived or executed by the Pharisees and scribes. The arrest itself is carried out by a detachment of soldiers and temple guards, led by Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus [Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53; John 18:3-11]. The religious leaders, including the chief priests and elders, were involved in orchestrating the arrest through Judas, but their plotting had been ongoing for some time.
Following his arrest, Jesus was brought before the Sanhedrin, which included chief priests, elders, and scribes, for trial [Matthew 26:57-68; Mark 14:53-65; Luke 22:66-71]. It was during this trial that they sought false testimony against him to put him to death [Matthew 26:59]. The chief priests, in particular, were active in condemning Jesus and persuading the crowd to demand his crucifixion before Pilate [Matthew 27:20]. John Gill notes that the chief priests were present at Jesus's apprehension, condemned him to death, and were "very busy at his arraignment, examination, and trial before Pilate," even following him to the cross to "exult over him, and insult him" [4].
Therefore, while the Pharisees and scribes were instrumental in the events leading to Jesus's crucifixion, their plotting to kill him began much earlier in his ministry and culminated in his arrest and trial, not in a specific plot within Gethsemane itself. Gethsemane was the location of Jesus's intense prayer and subsequent arrest, the culmination of the religious leaders' long-standing animosity and conspiracy.
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 (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”
- 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”
- 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”
- Mark (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Mark 12:11: And they send unto him,.... That is, the chief priests, Scribes, and elders, who had been with Jesus in the temple, and were silenced by his reasonings, and provoked by his parables; and therefore left him, and went together to consult what methods they should take to get him into their hands, and be revenged on him; the result of which was, they send to him certain of the Pharisees. The Syriac and Persic versions read "Scribes", who were the more skillful and learned part of that body of men, and scrupled paying tribute to Caesar, he being an Heathen prince, and the”