Woman: Where Are Your Accusers? Series

e. In His Sermon on the Mount. "And it came to pass when Jesus had ended these sayings; the people were astonished at His doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes,” Matthew 7:27-28. The Master had commanding delivery skills and practical applications in His teaching of the kingdom of God to the people. Matthew concluded that He spoke with authority and not like the scribes. John continued with,

3. The Pharisee's insults. “Then answered the Pharisees to them (the officers), Are you deceived? Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? But these people who knoweth not the Law is cursed,” John 7:47-49. The Pharisees had already agreed to put out of the synagogue anyone who would confess Jesus to be the Messiah. John wrote elsewhere,

a. The blind man’s parents: "These words spake his parents because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that if any man did confess that he was Christ, He should be put out of the synagogue. Therefore, said his parents, He is of age; ask him,” John 9:22-23.

b. The chief rulers: “Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God,” John 12:42-43.

c. Jesus said: "I have come in my Father's name, and you received me not: if another shall come in his name, him you will receive. How can you believe, which receive honor one of another, and seek not the honor that cometh from God only?” John 5:43-44.

d. Jesus said again: “Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. Had you believed Moses, you would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?” John 5:45-47.

e. Conclusion: Had you read Moses, you would have learned of me and know that I am the one who wrote. Moses wrote: "And the LORD said unto me, They have (well) spoken that which they have spoken. I will raise them a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him. And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him,” Deuteronomy 18:17-19; Acts 3:22-26.

4. Nicodemus’ defense: “Nicodemus saith unto them (the Pharisees), (he that came to Jesus by night, being one of them,) Doth our law judgeth any man, before it heareth him, and know what he doth?” John 7:50-51; John 3:1-5.

a. The Pharisees’ response: “They answered and said unto him (Nicodemus), Art thou also of Galilee? Search, and look: for out of Galilee ariseth no prophet,” John 7:52. Brother Johnson commented on this statement.

1) He wrote: “Nicodemus. See John 3:1. Dost our law judge, etc.? Of course, it did not, but for him to say a word in defense of justice brought the charge that he was a follower of the Galilean. Out of Galilee ariseth no prophet. The rulers, in their rage, make a false statement. Jonah (2 Kings 14:25), Elijah (1 Kings 17:1), and Nahum (Nah. 1:1) were all of Galilee," Page 259. Matthew Henry also wrote of the Pharisees' misquotation of prophets coming out of Galilee. Consider,