Mark 3:6
The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's truly striking here is that bitter enemies, the Pharisees and Herodians, put aside their deep animosity. Their shared hatred for Jesus was so intense it forged an unholy alliance, showing how extreme opposition can unite even the most unlikely foes.
Fresh from their public humiliation when Jesus exposed their malice and healed a man on the Sabbath, the Pharisees are furious. They immediately team up with the Herodians, a political faction usually at odds with them, to plot Jesus' death. Jesus, aware of their deadly intentions, withdraws from the area, but a massive crowd continues to follow him, drawn by his healing power.
Imagine two groups who absolutely can't stand each other, suddenly joining forces. That's exactly what happened here.
The Pharisees and the Herodians were, in many ways, polar opposites.
Despite their deep animosity, their shared hatred for Jesus drove them to form an unholy alliance. This shows how a common enemy, even a righteous one like Jesus, can unite deeply divided people with a singular, destructive goal.
When hatred takes root, it doesn't wait around. It acts, and it acts fast.
The word 'straightway' (or 'immediately') is crucial here. It tells us the Pharisees didn't just think about getting rid of Jesus; they acted on it with alarming speed.
This wasn't a measured, thoughtful deliberation. It was a furious, immediate response fueled by their anger and fear of Jesus's growing influence and his exposure of their hypocrisy.
Their eagerness to 'destroy him' reveals a core problem: rather than examining their own hearts in light of Jesus's truth, they chose to eliminate the messenger. This is a dangerous path, where the response to conviction is not repentance, but rage and plotting.
In the same moments Jesus is healing and drawing crowds, his enemies are plotting his death.
This verse, Mark 3:6, captures a stark contrast:
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.
The Pharisees, usually staunch opponents of the Herodians, found common ground in their shared political and religious anxieties about Jesus. Their desperate alliance highlights how perceived threats to established power can unite unlikely factions.
c. 63 BC
Herodian Dynasty Established
Herod the Great's father, Antipater, an Idumean, gains Roman favor and political power, laying the groundwork for the Herodian dynasty's influence in Judea. This established a political faction aligned with Roman interests.
c. 40 BC - 4 BC
Reign of Herod the Great
Herod the Great, a client king of Rome, rules Judea. His reign is marked by political maneuvering and attempts to gain Jewish acceptance, creating a faction (Herodians) loyal to his rule and Roman authority.
c. AD 6
Judea Becomes a Roman Province
After Herod the Great's death, his kingdom is divided, and Judea becomes a Roman province governed by prefects, later procurators. This intensified Roman presence and led to increased friction with Jewish leaders.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry, teaching, healing, and challenging the religious and political establishment, drawing large crowds and causing significant stir.
This passage describes the rulers of the earth conspiring together against the Lord and his Anointed, mirroring the unified opposition Jesus faced from the Pharisees and Herodians.
Matthew 27:1-2This shows the chief priests and elders again consulting together against Jesus, even after his betrayal and arrest, demonstrating the persistent and deadly nature of their conspiracy.
John 11:47-53Here, the chief priests and Pharisees plot Jesus' death out of fear of Roman reprisal and their own loss of authority, revealing the political and religious motivations behind their murderous intent.
Acts 4:25-28This New Testament passage directly quotes Psalm 2, applying it to the real-world event of Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel uniting against Jesus, echoing the alliance seen in Mark 3:6.
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…
What's truly striking here is that bitter enemies, the Pharisees and Herodians, put aside their deep animosity. Their shared hatred for Jesus was so intense it forged an unholy alliance, showing how extreme opposition can unite even the most unlikely foes.
Fresh from their public humiliation when Jesus exposed their malice and healed a man on the Sabbath, the Pharisees are furious. They immediately team up with the Herodians, a political faction usually at odds with them, to plot Jesus' death. Jesus, aware of their deadly intentions, withdraws from the area, but a massive crowd continues to follow him, drawn by his healing power.
Fresh from their public humiliation when Jesus exposed their malice and healed a man on the Sabbath, the Pharisees are furious. They immediately team up with the Herodians, a political faction usually at odds with them, to plot Jesus' death. Jesus, aware of their deadly intentions, withdraws from the area, but a massive crowd continues to follow him, drawn by his healing power.
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The enemy's efforts to stop God's work often happen precisely when that work is at its most potent and visible. They sought to extinguish the light, but Jesus's power and compassion continued to shine, drawing more people to him.
c. AD 30— this verse
Pharisees and Herodians Conspire
Religious leaders (Pharisees) and political allies of Herod (Herodians), despite their usual animosity, unite in a plot against Jesus due to his growing popularity and perceived threat to their authority.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Ministry Continues Amidst Opposition
Despite the plot, Jesus continues his ministry, withdrawing from immediate danger and teaching large crowds, while the opposition to him intensifies, leading eventually to his crucifixion.
"The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him." — What's truly striking here is that bitter enemies, the Pharisees and Herodians, put aside their deep animosity. Their shared hatred for Jesus was so intense it forged an unholy alliance, showing how…
