John 7:48-50
Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The Pharisees use a twisted logic: they assume that if no one in a position of authority or religious prestige has believed, then Jesus can't be legitimate. This reveals their deep-seated pride, elevating their own status above the undeniable truth of Jesus' words. They demand that belief be validated by earthly power, not by spiritual reality.
After Jesus speaks powerfully in the temple, the religious authorities are stunned that their temple guards didn't arrest Him, prompting them to demand an explanation. The guards explain they couldn't arrest Jesus because no one had ever spoken like Him, which in turn angers the authorities who dismiss the crowd as ignorant and accursed. Nicodemus then cautiously steps in to defend Jesus, suggesting they follow their own law and hear Him before judging, but is scornfully rebuffed.
Why did the religious leaders dismiss Jesus? It wasn't because they'd examined His claims, but because of who believed in Him. Their argument reveals a dangerous way of thinking.
The question, 'Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?' isn't a genuine inquiry; it's a loaded accusation. The religious elite weren't looking for truth; they were looking for validation from their own ranks.
The Politics of Belief
The leaders scorned the crowds as ignorant. But what if God's chosen path to truth lies with the marginalized, not the elite?
The leaders' scorn for the crowds ('this multitude, who know not the law, are accursed') reveals their deep-seated pride and their exclusive view of religious authority. They believed true understanding of God's law was limited to their own circle.
God's Unconventional Choices
Understand the original words
archōn · Greek Noun
Those holding positions of power or influence, including members of the Sanhedrin or high-ranking religious officials.
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A Jewish sect characterized by strict adherence to the oral and written law, often noted for their legalism and opposition to Jesus.
nomos · Greek Noun
The set of divine instructions given to Israel through Moses, serving as the standard for holiness, moral conduct, and covenant life.
epikataratos · Greek Adjective
Under a curse or divine judgment; someone considered excluded from the covenant community or condemned by God.
This verse highlights the deep divide between Jesus' growing popular following and the entrenched religious elite. The Pharisees, invested in their own authority and understanding of the law, used their leadership status as a litmus test for truth, a common tactic throughout history for established powers to resist disruptive change.
c. 200 BC - 100 BC
Rise of the Pharisee Movement
The Pharisees emerged as a prominent religious and political movement, emphasizing strict adherence to Jewish law and tradition. They gained significant influence among the populace and within Jewish leadership.
c. 63 BC
Roman Control of Judea
Rome conquers Judea, leading to a complex political landscape where Jewish leaders, including the Sanhedrin (composed of rulers and Pharisees), navigate Roman authority while maintaining religious control.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Ministry in Galilee and Judea
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching and performing miracles, attracting large crowds but also drawing criticism from religious authorities.
AD 30 (During the Feast of Tabernacles)— this verse
Jesus Teaches in the Temple
Jesus controversially teaches openly in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles, challenging the religious establishment and causing division among the crowds and officials.
This passage highlights how God often chooses the 'weak' and 'lowly' – not the rulers and powerful – to advance His kingdom, directly countering the Pharisees' argument that Jesus's lack of elite followers meant He wasn't from God.
Acts 4:13Here, the religious leaders are astonished that Peter and John, uneducated men, speak with such boldness and wisdom. This echoes the bewilderment of the temple guards in John 7:46 ('Never man spake like this man') and the Pharisees' scorn for the common people who believed in Jesus.
John 3:1-2This passage introduces Nicodemus, a ruler and a Pharisee, who secretly came to Jesus. It shows that even within the 'rulers and Pharisees,' there was genuine interest, though fear kept their belief hidden initially, contrasting with the public dismissal in John 7:48.
Isaiah 53:2-3This prophecy speaks of the Servant of the Lord having 'no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him,' and being 'despised and rejected by men.' This perfectly encapsulates why the 'rulers and Pharisees' would reject Jesus, as they looked for outward status and power, not a suffering Messiah.
calvinJohn 7:45-53: "Then came the officers to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why have ye not brought him?"
- So the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, and they said to them, Why have you not brought him? 46. The officers answered, Never man spoke like this man. 47. The Pharisees therefore answered them, And are you also seduced? 48. Hath any of the rulers, or of the Pharisees, believed in him? 49. But this multitude, who know not the law, are accursed. 50.…
gillJohn 7:48: "Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?"
Have any of the rulers,.... In the sanhedrim, or of the synagogues; or the civil magistrates, the noble, rich, and wealthy: or of the Pharisees, believed on him; men famous for wisdom, learning, and holiness. It must be owned, there were but very few of this sort, and perhaps not an instance of this kind had as yet occurred to them; there was Nicodemus, who is mentioned in the context, who was both a ruler and a Pharisee;…
The Pharisees use a twisted logic: they assume that if no one in a position of authority or religious prestige has believed, then Jesus can't be legitimate. This reveals their deep-seated pride, elevating their own status above the undeniable truth of Jesus' words. They demand that belief be validated by earthly power, not by spiritual reality.
After Jesus speaks powerfully in the temple, the religious authorities are stunned that their temple guards didn't arrest Him, prompting them to demand an explanation. The guards explain they couldn't arrest Jesus because no one had ever spoken like Him, which in turn angers the authorities who dismiss the crowd as ignorant and accursed. Nicodemus then cautiously steps in to defend Jesus, suggesting they follow their own law and hear Him before judging, but is scornfully rebuffed.
After Jesus speaks powerfully in the temple, the religious authorities are stunned that their temple guards didn't arrest Him, prompting them to demand an explanation. The guards explain they couldn't arrest Jesus because no one had ever spoken like Him, which in turn angers the authorities who dismiss the crowd as ignorant and accursed. Nicodemus then cautiously steps in to defend Jesus, suggesting they follow their own law and hear Him before judging, but is scornfully rebuffed.
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Nikodēmos · Greek Proper Noun
A ruler of the Jews and member of the Sanhedrin who approached Jesus privately to inquire about his teaching.
AD 30
Temple Guards Fail to Arrest Jesus
Temple guards are sent to arrest Jesus but return without him, confessing, 'No one ever spoke like this man!' This infuriates the chief priests and Pharisees.
AD 30
Debate Over Belief and Authority
The chief priests and Pharisees, defensive and scornful, dismiss the guards and challenge the notion that anyone in authority would believe in Jesus, highlighting their own perceived status and the ignorance of the masses.
"Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them," — The Pharisees use a twisted logic: they assume that if no one in a position of authority or religious prestige has believed, then Jesus can't be legitimate. This reveals their deep-seated pride, elev…
