Teachers of the law

Those professionally trained to develop, teach and apply the OT law. In the application of the law the oral teaching of these people often assumed greater authority than the written law. Thus, by the time of the NT, the teachers of the law were in conflict with Jesus Christ and the apostles, who taught with authority and condemned the outward religious acts that the teachers had fostered.

Teachers of the law mentioned by name

Ezra

Ezra 7:1–21; Nehemiah 8:1–18 Teachers of the law arose after the exile from amongst the earlier scribes whose duties were more strictly secretarial.

Nicodemus

John 3:10

Gamaliel

Acts 5:34 Teachers of the law belonged mainly to the Pharisees but as a body were distinct from them.

Teachers of the law in conflict with Jesus Christ

Concerning righteousness

Matthew 5:20

For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Concerning Jesus Christ's authority

Matthew 9:2–8 parallels Mark 2:5–12, Luke 5:20–26 See also Mark 3:22–27, Mark 11:27–33 parallel Luke 20:1–8

Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!” But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said, “Why do you harbor evil in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins...” Then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your mat, and go home.” And the man got up and went home. When the crowds saw this, they were filled with awe and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Concerning the seeking of signs

Matthew 12:38–39

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.

Concerning hypocrisy

Matthew 23:2–33 parallels Mark 12:38–40, Luke 13:34–35, Luke 20:46 See also Matthew 15:1–8 parallel Mark 7:1–8; Isaiah 29:13

Concerning the children's praise

Matthew 21:15–16 See also Psalm 8:2

But the chief priests and scribes were indignant when they saw the wonders He performed and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Do You hear what these children are saying?” they asked. “Yes,” Jesus answered. “Have you never read: ‘From the mouths of children and infants You have ordained praise’?”

Concerning Jesus Christ's mixing with sinners

Mark 2:16–17 parallel Luke 5:30–32 See also Luke 15:1–7

When the scribes who were Pharisees saw Jesus eating with these people, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus told them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Concerning Jesus Christ's identity

Mark 12:35–37 See also Psalm 110:1

While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David? Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’ David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.

Concerning the Sabbath

Luke 6:7–11

Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and stand among us.” So he got up and stood there. Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” And after looking around at all of them, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and it was restored. But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

The teachers of the law sought to get rid of Jesus Christ

By falsely accusing him

Luke 23:10 See also Matthew 26:57–60 parallel Mark 14:53–56 The teachers of the law were entrusted with the administration of the law as judges in the Sanhedrin; John 8:3–6

Meanwhile, the chief priests and scribes stood there, vehemently accusing Him.

By looking for ways to arrest and kill him

Mark 11:18 parallel Luke 19:47 See also Mark 14:1 parallel Luke 22:2; Mark 14:43; Luke 20:19 parallel Mark 12:12

When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

By sending him to be tried before Pilate

Mark 15:1 See also Luke 22:66–23:1

Early in the morning, the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole Sanhedrin devised a plan. They bound Jesus, led Him away, and handed Him over to Pilate.

The teachers of the law, with others, mocked Christ crucified

Matthew 27:41–42 parallel Mark 15:31–32

In the same way, the chief priests, scribes, and elders mocked Him, saying, “He saved others, but He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel! Let Him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in Him.

Jesus Christ foretold the opposition of the teachers of the law

Matthew 16:21 parallels Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22 See also Matthew 20:18–19 parallel Mark 10:33–34

From that time on Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

Teachers of the law in conflict with the apostles

Acts 4:5–7, Acts 6:12

Teachers of the law in a non-confrontational setting

Matthew 2:4, Matthew 8:19–20, Matthew 13:52; Luke 20:39; 1 Timothy 1:7 See also Matthew 7:28–29, Matthew 17:10 parallel Mark 9:11; Mark 1:22; Acts 23:9

And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

And one of the scribes came to Him and said, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Then He told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been discipled in the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”

Some of the scribes answered, “Teacher, You have spoken well!”

They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or that which they so confidently assert.