The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights a stunning paradox: religious leaders, who should uphold the Law, immediately conspire with political allies, normally their enemies, to commit murder. Their deep hatred for Jesus overrides their usual animosities, revealing how a desire to eliminate truth can unite the most unlikely and corrupt factions.
The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Jesus' healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, the religious leaders were enraged and began plotting against him. This verse marks the critical moment where the Pharisees, deeply offended and threatened by Jesus' actions and growing popularity, join forces with the Herodians, a political faction usually opposed to them, to devise a plan for his assassination. Jesus, aware of their deadly intentions, wisely withdraws from the area.
Imagine two groups who absolutely can't stand each other, suddenly joining forces. That's exactly what happens here, and their target is Jesus.
The Pharisees, known for their strict adherence to the Law and their religious authority, were deeply threatened by Jesus. The Herodians, on the other hand, were a political faction who supported Herod and Roman rule. Their interests often clashed, making them natural enemies of the Pharisees.
A Common Enemy
Yet, faced with Jesus' growing influence and His challenges to their established ways, these two seemingly incompatible groups found common ground: their hatred and fear of Jesus. This verse shows us how a shared opposition to God's work can unite even the most unlikely people.
Immediate Action
Notice the word 'straightway.' It means immediately, without delay. Their consultation wasn't a casual chat; it was a swift, urgent plotting. The danger Jesus posed to their power and traditions was so great that they dropped everything to plan His destruction.
The goal wasn't just to debate Jesus or prove Him wrong; it was far more sinister. This council had one terrifying objective.
The word 'destroy' in this verse is chillingly direct. It wasn't about refuting His teachings or exposing His supposed flaws; it was about eliminating Him entirely.
Malice Over Law
Ask a follow-up
It's striking that these religious leaders, who claimed to uphold God's Law and were meticulous about Sabbath observance, had no qualms about plotting murder on the Sabbath. Their animosity towards Jesus blinded them to their own hypocrisy.
The Root of Their Rage
Their anger stemmed from several things: Jesus' authority challenged theirs, His exposure of their hypocrisy was humiliating, and His popularity with the people threatened their influence. Rather than repent, they chose to plot His demise.
While His enemies plotted His death, Jesus didn't confront them head-on. His reaction reveals a profound trust in God's timing.
When Jesus learned of this deadly plot, He didn't stay to fight or argue. He 'withdrew' from that place. This wasn't an act of cowardice, but of wisdom and obedience.
God's Appointed Time
Jesus knew His mission had a specific timeline. His death was not to be at the hands of a panicked, plotting religious council, but at the divinely appointed time, as part of His redemptive work for the world. His withdrawal protected Him until that moment.
Continuing His Mission
Instead of hiding, Jesus moved to Galilee, where great crowds followed Him. He continued to heal and teach, demonstrating that His ministry was not dependent on the approval of His enemies, but on the Father's will. Even in the face of death threats, God's purposes advanced.
Understand the original words
Pharisaioi · Greek Noun
A Jewish religious sect known for their strict adherence to the law and oral traditions; they frequently clashed with Jesus over matters of legalism and interpretation.
Herodianon · Greek Noun
A political party or group associated with the family of Herod, likely supporting Herod Antipas’s authority; they were generally antagonistic toward Jesus and collaborated with the Pharisees.
apolesosin · Greek Verb
In this context, to put to death, kill, or bring to nothing; it reflects the intense opposition and lethal intent of the religious leaders against Jesus.
c. 4 BC
Death of Herod the Great
The death of Herod the Great, who ruled Judea as a client king of Rome, led to political instability and the division of his kingdom among his sons. This created a volatile political landscape in which factions like the Herodians emerged.
c. AD 6
Establishment of Roman Prefecture
Following the deposition of Herod Archelaus, Judea was placed under direct Roman rule, led by a prefect. This increased Roman influence and authority in the region, setting the stage for tensions between Jewish leaders and Roman-backed powers.
Early 1st Century AD
Emergence of the Herodians
The Herodians were a political faction that supported the Herodian dynasty's claim to rule and, by extension, the Roman Empire. They were often at odds with the Pharisees, who prioritized strict adherence to Jewish law and tradition.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Ministry Intensifies
Jesus' growing popularity and authoritative teachings began to attract significant crowds and challenge the religious and political establishment. His miracles, particularly those performed on the Sabbath, directly conflicted with Pharisaic interpretations of the Law.
c. AD 30
Plot to Destroy Jesus
Following a confrontation in the synagogue where Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath, the Pharisees, deeply angered and threatened by his influence, conspire with the Herodians to find a way to eliminate him.
This passage describes rulers and kings of the earth conspiring together against the Lord and His Anointed, mirroring the unholy alliance formed by the Pharisees and Herodians in Mark 3:6 to plot against Jesus.
Matthew 12:14This verse from Matthew directly parallels Mark 3:6, stating that the Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesus, highlighting their persistent and malicious intent even after witnessing His miracles.
John 11:53This verse shows a similar outcome to the plot in Mark 3:6, revealing that from that day on, the chief priests and Pharisees consulted together to put Jesus to death, demonstrating the hardening of their hearts and the escalating nature of their conspiracy.
Acts 4:25-27This passage in Acts quotes Psalm 2 and applies it to Jesus, showing how the rulers of Jerusalem, like the Pharisees and Herodians, gathered together against the Lord and His Christ, reinforcing the ancient pattern of opposition to God's chosen one.
pooleMark 3:6: "And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."
Ver. 6-12. Who these Herodians were we cannot learn plainly from holy writ; it is most probable that they were a civil faction, who took Herod’s part, and were stiff for promoting his interest, and the interest of the Roman emperor, whose substitute Herod was. With these the Pharisees (in other cases their implacable enemies) mix counsels how they might destroy Chri…
gillMark 3:6: "And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him."
And the Pharisees went forth,.... Out of the synagogue, being dreadfully galled with the reasonings of Christ, at the silence and confusion they were put to, and with the miracle he wrought, to the exposing of them, and establishing his own credit: and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him: See Gill on Matthew 22:16. How they might destroy him: per…
This verse highlights a stunning paradox: religious leaders, who should uphold the Law, immediately conspire with political allies, normally their enemies, to commit murder. Their deep hatred for Jesus overrides their usual animosities, revealing how a desire to eliminate truth can unite the most unlikely and corrupt factions.
Following Jesus' healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, the religious leaders were enraged and began plotting against him. This verse marks the critical moment where the Pharisees, deeply offended and threatened by Jesus' actions and growing popularity, join forces with the Herodians, a political faction usually opposed to them, to devise a plan for his assassination. Jesus, aware of their deadly intentions, wisely withdraws from the area.
Following Jesus' healing a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, the religious leaders were enraged and began plotting against him. This verse marks the critical moment where the Pharisees, deeply offended and threatened by Jesus' actions and growing popularity, join forces with the Herodians, a political faction usually opposed to them, to devise a plan for his assassination. Jesus, aware of their deadly intentions, wisely withdraws from the area.
"The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him." — This verse highlights a stunning paradox: religious leaders, who should uphold the Law, immediately conspire with political allies, normally their enemies, to commit murder. Their deep hatred for Jes…
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Last reviewed October 2026