Topical Encyclopedia Hatred towards Christ is a theme that emerges throughout the New Testament, reflecting the opposition and animosity that Jesus faced during His earthly ministry. This hostility is not only a historical reality but also a spiritual phenomenon that continues to manifest in various forms. The Bible provides numerous illustrations of this hatred, revealing the depth of human resistance to divine truth and love.1. The Pharisees and Religious Leaders The religious leaders of Jesus' time, particularly the Pharisees and Sadducees, exemplified hatred towards Christ. Their animosity was rooted in jealousy, fear of losing authority, and a fundamental misunderstanding of the Messiah's mission. In the Gospel of John, Jesus confronts their unbelief and hostility: "But now you are trying to kill Me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing" (John 8:40). Their hatred culminated in the plot to arrest and crucify Jesus, as seen in Matthew 26:3-4: "At that time the chief priests and elders of the people assembled in the courtyard of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him." 2. The People of Nazareth Even in His hometown of Nazareth, Jesus faced rejection and hatred. Despite His wisdom and miraculous works, the people were offended by Him, questioning His authority and identity. In Luke 4:28-29, the reaction of the Nazarenes is recorded: "On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff." This incident illustrates the deep-seated resistance to accepting Jesus as the Messiah, even among those who knew Him personally. 3. Judas Iscariot Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, is a poignant illustration of betrayal and hatred towards Christ. Despite being in close fellowship with Jesus, Judas harbored greed and disillusionment, ultimately leading to his betrayal of the Savior for thirty pieces of silver. In Matthew 26:14-16, the narrative unfolds: "Then one of the Twelve, the one called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and asked, 'What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?' And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. So from that time on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus." 4. The Roman Authorities The Roman authorities, represented by figures such as Pontius Pilate and the soldiers, also displayed hatred towards Christ, albeit from a political and pragmatic standpoint. Pilate, though initially reluctant, succumbed to the pressure of the crowd and sanctioned Jesus' crucifixion. The soldiers mocked and tortured Jesus, as described in Matthew 27:28-31: "They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And they twisted together a crown of thorns, set it on His head, and put a staff in His right hand. Then they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' They spat on Him and took the staff and struck Him on the head repeatedly. After they had mocked Him, they removed the robe and put His own clothes back on Him. Then they led Him away to crucify Him." 5. The World at Large The hatred towards Christ is not confined to historical events but extends to the world at large, as Jesus Himself predicted. In John 15:18-19, He warns His disciples: "If the world hates you, understand that it hated Me first. If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world." This passage highlights the spiritual conflict between the kingdom of God and the fallen world, a conflict that continues to manifest in various forms of opposition to Christ and His followers. These illustrations of hatred towards Christ serve as a sobering reminder of the cost of discipleship and the reality of spiritual warfare. They also underscore the profound love and grace of Jesus, who endured such hostility for the sake of humanity's redemption. Torrey's Topical Textbook Luke 19:12-14,17He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library The Church and the World. The Life of Christ. Of Passages from the Holy Scriptures, and from the Apocrypha ... Confession of Sin Illustrated by the Cases of Dr. Pritchard and ... Reception Christ Met With. Christ's Discourses in Per??a - Close of the Per??an Ministry The Honoured Guest Non-Resistance The First Stages. Ch. 9:51 to 13:21 The Call of Matthew - the Saviour's Welcome to Sinners - Rabbinic ... Resources What does the Bible say about self-hatred? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about hate? | GotQuestions.org What is Christianophobia? | GotQuestions.org Hatred: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Hatred to Christ is on Account of his Testimony Against the World Hatred to Christ is Without Cause Hatred to Christ: Chief Priests Hatred to Christ: Involves: Hatred to his Father Hatred to Christ: Involves: Hatred to his People Hatred to Christ: No Escape for Those Who Persevere In Hatred to Christ: Punishment of Hatred: Against Iniquity, Justified Hatred: Inconsistent With: Liars Prone To Hatred: Inconsistent With: The Knowledge of God Hatred: Inconsistent With: The Love of God Hatred: Often Cloaked by Deceit Hatred: Saints should Give No Cause For Hatred: Saints should not Marvel At Hatred: Saints should not Rejoice in the Calamities of Those Who Exhibit Hatred: Saints should Return Good For Hatred: Scriptures Relating To Hatred: The Wicked Exhibit: Towards Each Other Hatred: The Wicked Exhibit: Towards God Hatred: The Wicked Exhibit: Towards Saints Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: Backsliding Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: Evil Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: False Ways Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: Hatred and Opposition to God Hatred: we should Exhibit Against: Lying Related Terms |
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