I have been studying about the scribes and pharisees of the times of Jesus and the way they were always bogging him with tricks of words from the Law. I can outline a few major problems, besides the long list of lamentations over them which Jesus threads on toward the end of the 23rd chapter of Matthew.

1. They had no respect for Jesus or for the people. They could see he was teaching in the open and attracting attention and interest.

2. They were jealous of Jesus' authority and creative teaching speech and methods. When they asked about the authority with which he had been teaching, they got at him and he decided to ask them a mirror question:

"With which authority do you think John the Baptist has taught?"

They quieted because they were afraid of the people who recognized John. They knew they were getting into a political dead end. Popularity makes things a little easier for speakers. But having had God free a previous speaker rather speeds papers up, voices, I mean!

3. The saduccees did not believe in the ressurrection. But the funny thing was when the shut up and that encouraged even the pharisees and the scribes to take up.

4. Jesus recognized their authority more than they did. Even more contradictory was that they were never hindered to teach, but they hid their teaching. Jesus even recommended they be heard and obeyed, not immitated in their doings. They had been given the keys to saving speech and were wasting their time with the son of the Voice owner. Instead of subscribing, they sob scribed!

I think I have been inspired. By the way, the other secret is this. You really never know waht the holy spirit will say and that makes it harder on the mouth-shutters.

Pilate, himself was ware they were delivering Jesus to death because of envy. So blinded of hatred they were, they preferred the chaotic Barrabas. It is often visible that mouth shutter have little spirit to say things and hate to see others free!

With all my love in God!