8 Times in the Bible People Wanted to Kill Jesus

Not everyone loved Jesus.

Photo by Wim van 't Einde on Unsplash

The idea that Jesus never taught anything that people didn’t like is just flat-out wrong. 

Jesus continually taught the truth — and because of that, He was hated. 

At least eight times in the Gospel accounts, people tried to seize Jesus and kill Him because of something He did or said. 

When Jesus called out His hometown for their unbelief (Luke 4:16–30). 

Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1–2 in His hometown synagogue and applied the prophecy to Himself. When people started wondering what was going on, He told them, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.” He then went on to mention how God cared for foreigners, and not just the Jews. 

When they heard that, they were filled with rage and drove Jesus out of town. They tried to throw Him off a cliff, but Jesus passed through the crowd and left. 

When Jesus challenged the Pharisee’s traditions about the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1–14; Mark 2:23–3:6; Luke 6:1–11). 

The Pharisees had many traditions they followed, especially about the Sabbath Day. They added these traditions along with God’s Word and enforced their traditions on others. 

However, Jesus would have none of it. 

He challenged their traditions by showing that His disciples were not breaking God’s law by picking grain as they walked through a field. He provided further evidence that His challenge of their traditions was right by healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath. 

The Pharisees were so in love with their traditions that they began to plot how to destroy Jesus after He healed the man. 

When Jesus placed Himself above the Pharisee’s level of authority (John 5:1–18). 

Once again, Jesus healed someone on the Sabbath. This man couldn’t walk, but Jesus healed him and told him to take his mat with him — he wouldn’t need it anymore. 

The Pharisees confronted this man and told him, “You are breaking God’s law by carrying your mat on the Sabbath.”The man told the Pharisees that Jesus had healed him and told him to carry his mat. The Pharisees wanted to kill Jesus because of this. 

Jesus told the Pharisees that their traditions were not greater than God’s authority — and He said that God was His Father, which made Him equal with God. This only made them want to kill Him more. 

When Jesus called Himself by God’s name (John 8:48–59). 

In another confrontation with the Jews, Jesus told them, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). 

The Jews mockingly replied, “You aren’t even 50 years old yet, and have you see Abraham?”Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:57–58). 

That got their attention. Jesus said that He is the I AM — a clear reference to the LORD God (Exodus 3:14). Jesus made it very clear — He is eternal and powerful. He goes by God’s own name. 

The Jews picked up stones to execute Jesus by stoning Him to death, but He just passed through the middle of the mob and left. 

When Jesus referred to Himself as being God (John 10:31–39). 

Once again, during the middle of a discussion, the Jews picked up stones to stone Jesus to death. He asked them which good work from the Father they were going to kill Him for. 

They said, “Because You are a man, and you are making yourself God.”Jesus replied, “Look at the works I’m doing. Clearly, God must be behind the message.” Jesus could do no miracles if God disapproved of His teaching. 

The mob ignored Jesus and tried to seize Him anyway — but once again, the Lord escaped. 

When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11:45–57). 

After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, which proved He is “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25), the Pharisees met to figure out what they were going to do with Jesus. 

They decided that the only course of action to preserve their power was to put Jesus to death (John 11:53). From this time on, they looked for an opportunity to seize Jesus. 

When Jesus cleansed the temple the final time of corruption (Mark 11:15–18; Luke 19:45–48).

When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem before His crucifixion, He went into the temple and drove out the merchants selling animals. These merchants were taking advantage of people by charging exorbitant amounts. 

Not only were the leaders of the people robbing the people financially, but they were also robbing them spiritually. So, Jesus taught every day in the temple. 

The leaders of the people wanted to destroy Jesus, but they could not because of the crowds of people gathered around Jesus, listening to Him. 

When Jesus told the chief priests and Pharisees that the kingdom of God would be taken from them and given to another nation (Matthew 21:33–46; Mark 12:1–12; Luke 20:9–19). 

Jesus told the rulers of the people that God’s kingdom would be opened to other people — not just the Jews. 

The Jews would end up rejecting Jesus, but their rejection of the Messiah would be what sealed their fate and ground them “into powder” (Luke 20:18). 

The leaders of the people wanted to seize Jesus and kill Him at that very moment, but they were afraid of the people. 

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If Jesus were walking around the earth today and teaching people, people would still hate Him. Some would even try to kill Him. 

How do I know that? Because Jesus’ followers are treated the same way. 

Jesus told His apostles, 

If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. (John 15:18–21)

People wanted to kill Jesus because they did not know God. When people oppose Christ and His way today, it is because they do not know God.