The Pharisees reacted negatively because they could not believe that Jesus was the Christ, the promised One from Genesis 12, and they saw believers as a threat to their religious system.
Les Feldick teaches that religious Jews like Saul of Tarsus considered Jesus an imposter who was destroying the bulwarks of Judaism, so they persecuted believers in the name of religion. Even those Pharisees who did believe remained lawkeepers and insisted that Gentile believers be circumcised and keep the law of Moses. When the Gospel went to the Gentiles, the Jews became the chief opponents of Christianity because they saw it as an infringement on their God.
Acts 15:5 — Records the 'sect of the Pharisees which believed' demanding Gentile circumcision and law-keeping — a direct biblical example of the Pharisaic mindset that opposed Gentile believers.
Acts 22:22 — Shows the violent Jewish reaction to the Gentile mission, supporting the point that Israel rejected her role to reach the Gentiles.
The Bible records that during the Jerusalem meeting, certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed rose up and said it was needful to circumcise the Gentile believers and command them to keep the law of Moses (Acts 15:5). Later, when Paul defended his ministry before the Jewish crowd, they gave him audience until he mentioned the Gentiles; then they lifted up their voices and said, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live' (Acts 22:22). These passages reveal a religious attachment to the law and a deep hostility to the idea that God was now moving toward the Gentiles.
Les explains that the religious Jews of Jesus' day, including Saul of Tarsus, could not believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ promised from Genesis chapter 12. Because they had built their whole life around the Jewish religion and its hierarchy, they viewed Jesus as an imposter who was destroying the bulwarks of Judaism. Their response was to stamp out the believers who recognized Jesus as the Christ — doing it in the name of religion (Clips 4, 6). Les also points to Acts 15, where certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up in the Jerusalem church. These were not the self-righteous 'whited sepulchres' that Jesus confronted; they had believed Jesus was the Christ, but they were still lawkeepers. These believing Pharisees insisted that the Gentile converts be circumcised and keep the law of Moses (Clips 1, 2, 3). Finally, Les says that when Paul turned to the pagan Gentiles, the Gentiles embraced the Gospel with enthusiasm, but the Jews hated them for 'infringing upon their God.' The Jews became the chief opponents of Christianity. Israel, Les concludes, had been blinded to her true role as the vehicle to reach the Gentiles and fought Paul every inch of the way (Clips 5, 7).
Les explains that Saul of Tarsus and all the religious Jews of Jesus' day could not believe that Jesus was the Christ — the One promised all the way back from Genesis chapter 12. Saul felt Jesus was an imposter who was trying to destroy everything he had built his life around: the Jewish religion, its hierarchy, and its bulwarks. In his human nature, Saul believed he could do God a favor by stamping out the believers who recognized Jesus as the Messiah, and he did it in the name of religion.
Les points to Acts 15, where certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up. These were not the self-righteous 'whited sepulchres' that Jesus dealt with in the Gospels; they had believed that Jesus was the Christ and were members of the Jerusalem church. Yet they were still under the law-keeping economy, and they insisted that it was needful to circumcise the Gentile believers and command them to keep the law of Moses.
Les says that whenever Paul went to the pagans, the Gentiles embraced the Gospel, but the Jews hated them and considered them to be infringing upon 'their God.' As a result, the Jews became the chief opponents of Christianity. In Acts 22, the crowd listened to Paul until he spoke about the Gentiles, then they rioted and cried, 'Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.' Israel, Les says, had been blinded to her true role as the vehicle to reach the Gentiles and fought Paul every inch of the way.
What the Bible Really Says About the Prodigal Son
and no man gave unto him. So where does he find himself? Destitute. Now he realizes that in himself there�s nothing he can do. Well isn�t this exactly where in all of Jesus� parables He was trying to show the Jew that this was their state, that they needed Him. In fact I haven�t decided yet whether in this program I�ll teach the book of John as we did down in Wilberton.
Pharisees Who Believed
Les shows that some Pharisees became believers but still wanted to keep the law, which created friction with Paul and the Gentiles.
Believing But Lawkeeping
Les repeats that even in Jerusalem there were believing Pharisees, not the 'whited sepulchres' Jesus faced, yet they demanded Gentile circumcision and law-keeping.
Under Judaism, Belief in the Christ
Les explains that under Judaism a believer was someone who believed Jesus was the Christ, and these believing Pharisees still wanted the Gentiles to keep the law of Moses.
They Could Not Believe He Was the Christ
Les says Saul and all religious Jews could not believe Jesus was the Christ, the One promised from Genesis 12, so they tried to stamp out those who recognized Him.
Jews as Chief Opponents
Les says the Jews became the chief opponents of Christianity because they hated that Gentiles were coming in and 'infringing upon their God.'
Jesus as Imposter
Les says Saul hated Jesus with a passion because he saw Him as an imposter destroying Judaism, so he persecuted believers in the name of religion.
The Riot at 'Gentile'
Les says the crowd rioted at the very word 'Gentile,' proving Israel was blinded to her role as the vehicle to reach the Gentiles and fought Paul every step.
Genesis 12:3: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Les refers to this Genesis promise as the one the religious Jews could not believe was fulfilled in Jesus the Christ.
Acts 15:5: But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
This verse names the believing Pharisees who still insisted on circumcision and law-keeping for Gentile believers.
Acts 22:22: And they gave him audience unto this word, and then lifted up their voices, and said, Away with such a fellow from the earth: for it is not fit that he should live.
This verse records the Jewish crowd's violent reaction when Paul spoke of going to the Gentiles.
No. Les points out that Acts 15 speaks of 'certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed' — these were believers in Jesus as the Christ, yet they were still lawkeepers and insisted the Gentiles be circumcised and keep the law of Moses.
Les says Saul hated Jesus of Nazareth with a passion because he felt Jesus was an imposter who was trying to destroy the bulwarks of Judaism. Saul thought he could do God a favor by stamping out believers with persecution, and he did it in the name of religion.
According to Les, whenever Paul went to the Gentiles they embraced the Gospel, but the Jews hated them and considered them to be infringing upon 'their God.' As a result, the Jews became the chief opponents of Christianity.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About the Prodigal Son