The Jewish leaders had plotted Jesus”™ death for a long time. But it didn”™t happen as they had carefully planned.

(NASB) Matthew 26:3-5 “Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas;

4 and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.

5 But they were saying, “˜Not during the festival, otherwise a riot might occur among the people.”™”

They feared and hated Jesus, the Son of God. These religious men were blinded to Who Jesus was. Jesus had condemned them when He said:

(NIV) Matthew 23:1-3 “THEN JESUS said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2“˜The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses”™ seat. 3So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.”

Jesus did not mince words when He said in (NASB) Matthew 23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!” “Woe to you, blind guides!”

Jesus”™ words against these rulers were scathing. And instead of looking at themselves and consider if Jesus was speaking truth”¦it fueled their hatred and their blindness.

Like the teachers of the law and the Pharisees should have done, we need to go before the living God and pray:

(NIV) Psalm 139:23-24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”