The Pharisees and Chief Priests Send Officers - John 7:32

The apostle John wrote how the Jews, “sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come. And many of the people believed on him, and said, When Christ comes, will he do more miracles than these which this man has done?”, and in chapter seven and verse thirty-two of his book, John shared how, “The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him; and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him” where we read:

The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him;

and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.

The verse reads, “The Pharisees heard that the people murmured such things concerning him;” John began with the words, “the Pharisees” or “the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile, and in addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “heard that the people murmured such things” which means “were given the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding that the people both male and female muttered, grumbled and discontentedly complained about the miracles and supernatural works” “concerning him” or “about and on account of Jesus”. John shared how the religious leaders known as the “Pharisees” perceived that the people were “grumbling and complaining” about Jesus and the “miracles” He performed.

The verse continues, “and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take him.” John added the words, “and the Pharisees” which means “and the sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile, and in addition to Old Testament books the Pharisees recognized in oral tradition a standard of belief and life” “and the chief priests” or “and the high priests” “sent officers” which means “dismissed, sent away and appointed attendants, ministers and servants” “to take him” or “to lay hold of, capture and seize Jesus”. John shared how the “religious leaders” known as the “Pharisees” and the “high priests” dispatched “attendants and servants” to “capture and seize” Jesus.

When we meditate upon John's words in this verse, we learn how the “Jewish religious leaders” responded to “many of the people” believing and trusting in Jesus. Because these believing people could not rationalize how anyone else could have performed more “miracles” than Jesus did, they caused the “Pharisees” to decide to capture Jesus. God knew all these things would take place, and in order for Jesus to die for the sins of the world, this was to be part of the process. Jesus came to give His life as payment for the sins of every person, and when they put their faith and trust in Him, they will be forgiven of their sins and inherit everlasting and eternal life with God. Let all who read these words consider the behavior of the “Pharisees” and never join in their pernicious ways.

Next time John shares how Jesus tells the Pharisees, “yet a little while am I with you”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".