Jewish authorities, Jewish leader

Definition

The term “Jewish leader” or “Jewish authority” refers to religious leaders such as the priests and teachers of God’s laws. They also had the authority to make judgments about non-religious matters as well.

• The Jewish leaders were the high priests, chief priests, and scribes (teachers of God’s laws).
• Two main groups of Jewish leaders were the Pharisees and Saduccees.
• Seventy Jewish leaders met together in the Jewish Council in Jerusalem to make judgments about matters of law.
• Many Jewish leaders were proud and thought they were righteous. They were jealous of Jesus and wanted to harm him. They claimed to know God but did not obey him.
• Often the phrase “the Jews” referred to the Jewish leaders, especially in contexts where they were angry at Jesus and were trying to trick or harm him.
• These terms could also be translated as “Jewish rulers” or “men who ruled over the Jewish people” or “Jewish religious leaders.”

(See also: Jew, council, high priest, Pharisee, priest, Sadducee, scribe)

Bible References

• Exodus 16:22-23
• John 2:19
• John 5:10-11
• John 5:16
• Luke 19:47-48

Examples from the Bible stories

• __24:3 Many religious leaders__ also came to be baptized by John, but they did not repent or confess their sins.
• __37:11 But the religious leaders of the Jews__ were jealous, so they gathered together to plan how they could kill Jesus and Lazarus.
• __38:2 He (Judas) knew that the Jewish leaders__ denied that Jesus was the Messiah and that they were plotting to kill him.
• __38:3 The Jewish leaders__, led by the high priest, paid Judas thirty silver coins to betray Jesus.
• __39:5 The Jewish leaders__ all answered the high priest, “He (Jesus) deserves to die!”
• __39:9 Early the next morning, the Jewish leaders__ brought Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor.
• __39:11 But the Jewish leaders__ and the crowd shouted, “Crucify him!”
• __40:9 Then Joseph and Nicodemus, two Jewish leaders__ who believed Jesus was the Messiah, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body.
• __44:7 The next day, the Jewish leaders brought Peter and John to the high priest and the other religious leaders__.

Word Data

• Strong’s: G24530