Jesus and the Scribes

Throughout the whole life of Christ the Scribes were among his most watchful and determined opponents. Their many accusations were continually recorded in the gospel accounts.

They complained that he ate with publicans and sinners (Mark 2:16; Luke 5:30, 15:2). When Jesus said to the one sick of the palsy , "Son, thy sins be forgiven thee," (Mark 2:6) the Scribes charged Him with blasphemy. When he cast out demons they said that He cast them out by "Beelzebub, the prince of the devils" (Mark 3:22). They would sit and watch Jesus to see if He would heal on the Sabbath day, that they might find an accusation against him (Luke 6:7). They also were among the Pharisees when they brought to him the woman caught in adultery, "tempting him, that they might have reason to accuse him" (John 8:3, 6). They were filled with indignation when Jesus performed any miracles (Luke 6:11). They took counsel with the chief priests as to how they might destroy him (Mark 11:18), and when Jesus was brought before Herod , they stood and vehemently accused him (Luke 23:10).

Jesus finally utters a series of woes (curses) upon the Scribes in Matt. 23.

Jesus did not condemn all Scribes and in fact they were not all bad. Nicodemus and Gamaliel were scribes and Hillel also for that matter. The young ruler who came to Jesus asking questions was no doubt a Scribe and Jesus said to him, "Thou art not far from the kingdom of God," (Mark 12:32-34) and He referred to some of His followers who would go to proclaim His truth as "scribes" (Matt 23:34).

For the most part, however, they were considered to be cursed and the spirit of their instructions and teaching, as seen by all the records of them in the Talmud, are the very antithesis of that of the gospel of Christ.

The determined hatred of the Scribes and their opposition to Jesus were no doubt a part of every event that led to the death of Jesus.