Yes — because Jesus was hanged on a tree, and Deuteronomy 21 declared that a hanged man is accursed of God.
Some Jews could accuse Jesus with a straight face because His crucifixion on a tree matched the Old Testament pattern of one hanged as a criminal. Les Feldick points out that the Jewish leaders knew Deuteronomy 21 and were in a hurry to get Jesus off the cross before the body remained overnight. The same Law said that one who is hanged is accursed of God, and that is the charge they used.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 — This is the Law that made a hanged man accursed of God, giving some Jews their reason to call Jesus accursed.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 states, "And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God:)" Under the Law, a body that was hanged on a tree was to be buried before sundown because the hanged man was under God's curse. In the book of Acts, Peter uses the same language about Jesus. Acts 5:30 says, "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree." Scripture itself, then, connects Jesus' crucifixion with the Old Testament 'hanged on a tree' description.
Les Feldick teaches that the Jewish people could accuse Jesus 'with a straight face and a straight conscience' because He had been hanged on a tree — the cross. He points to Deuteronomy 21:22-23, which says the one hanged is accursed of God, and he explains that this is why the Jews were in such a hurry to get Jesus off the cross and buried that day. Les also emphasizes that the cross was not beautiful; it was a curse, because God laid on Jesus the sins of the whole human race. The cross was a place of terrible reproach, which is why the Jews did not want the crucifixion to happen inside the city wall. At the same time, Les makes clear that no Jew or Roman actually took Jesus' life — Jesus gave it up of His own will — even though Peter, speaking by inspiration, still accused the nation of Israel of killing their Messiah. Les further explains that crucifixion was required by Scripture, because the Old Testament pointed to a lifting up as with the serpent in the wilderness; stoning would not have fulfilled those prophecies.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 required that a body hanged on a tree be buried that same day, 'for he that is hanged is accursed of God.' Les says the Jewish leaders knew this verse and were in a hurry to get Jesus off the cross. Their own Law told them the body could not remain all night upon the tree.
Peter told the Jewish council, 'The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.' Les explains that Peter used this language to show the despicableness of Jesus' death. Jesus was not guilty of any of it, but He became the innocent Lamb of God on whom the guilt of a sinful world was laid.
Les says the crucifixion was not beautiful; it was a curse, because God laid on Jesus the sins of the whole human race. The cross was a place of terrible reproach, and the Jews would not allow it to take place inside the city wall. This is why the manner of Jesus' death gave some Jews a legal basis under Deuteronomy 21 to call Him accursed.
Les compares Israel's response to the Old Testament cities of refuge. A man who killed someone in total ignorance could flee to a city of refuge and be set free. In the same way, Israel escaped being put to death like a common murderer because they did not know who Jesus was when they demanded His crucifixion. Their ignorance does not erase the fact that they rejected and crucified their Messiah.
Lesson evidence from "Christ Redeemed Us From the Curse of the Law Explained" (segments 14566): Galatians 3.13a "...Christ hath redeemed us, he hath paid the price of redemption with his blood, being made a curse for us. Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." He fulfilled that. He became that curse that was hung on a tree. And then here's why we went back to Deuteronomy. For it is written, "...cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Now I suppose a lot of people have wondered down through the ages, why? Why did God choose death by crucifixion, when the normal death for a criminal in Israel was stoning? Well you see he had to be lifted up, he had to be placed on a tree to fulfill this whole concept of cursed is every one that hangs on a tree. He couldn't have died any other death. It would have never fulfilled the total picture.
Old Testament Basis for Calling Jesus Accursed
Les explains that Jews could accuse Jesus with a straight face because He was hanged on a tree, citing Deuteronomy 21:22-23 and noting the Jews' haste to get Jesus buried that day.
Crucifixion as a Curse
Les says the crucifixion was a curse because God laid on Jesus the sins of the whole human race; Jesus became a curse for us even though He was innocent.
Peter's 'Hanged on a Tree' Language
Les highlights Peter's unusual wording that Jesus was slain and hanged on a tree, showing how the New Testament describes the crucifixion in Old Testament terms.
Despicableness of Jesus' Death
Les explains that Peter used 'hanged on a tree' to show the despicableness of Jesus' death, while Jesus remained the innocent Lamb of God. This reinforced why the death was viewed as accursed.
Cross as Reproach
Les teaches that the cross was a place of terrible reproach, which is why the Jews would not let Jesus be crucified inside the city wall.
Israel's Ignorance
Les compares Israel's actions to a manslayer who killed in ignorance and could flee to a city of refuge; Israel's lack of knowledge shaped how their rejection of Messiah was handled.
Jesus Gave His Life Voluntarily
Les says no Jew or Roman took Jesus' life; He gave it up of His own will, though Peter accused Israel of killing their Messiah. This balances the accusation with the truth of Jesus' voluntary death.
Crucifixion Required by Scripture
Les explains that Scripture required a lifting up, like the serpent in the wilderness, so stoning could not have fulfilled prophecy; crucifixion had to happen.
Additional lesson evidence
Sourced supporting context from "Christ Redeemed Us From the Curse of the Law Explained".
Deuteronomy 21:22: And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree:
This is the Old Testament legal condition for a body being hanged on a tree.
Deuteronomy 21:23: His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God:) that thy land be not defiled, which the LORD thy God giveth thee for an inheritance.
This verse is the direct basis for some Jews considering a crucified man accursed.
Acts 5:30: The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Peter used the 'hanged on a tree' language to describe Jesus' crucifixion to the Jewish council.
John 3:14: And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Jesus pointed to the Old Testament lifting up of the serpent, showing why crucifixion on a tree rather than stoning was involved.
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 demanded that a body hanged on a tree be buried that same day, 'for he that is hanged is accursed of God.' Les says the Jewish leaders knew this verse and that is why they moved quickly to have Jesus taken down before sundown.
Les explains that Jesus had not committed any sin worthy of death, but on the cross He became the innocent Lamb of God on whom the guilt of a sinful world was laid. The crucifixion was not beautiful; it was a curse because God laid on Him the sins of the whole human race.
Peter said in Acts 5:30, 'The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.' Les points out that this was a charge against the nation of Israel, even though no Jew or Roman actually took Jesus' life — He gave it up of His own will.
Les teaches that Scripture required a lifting up, as Jesus said in John 3 about the serpent in the wilderness. Stoning would not have fulfilled those prophecies, so crucifixion on a tree was the death that had to happen.
Watch the Teaching: Why the Jews Called Jesus Accursed — 1 Corinthians 12:3 Explained