# Jewish leaders, Jewish authorities, religious leaders #

## Facts: ##

The term "Jewish leaders" or "Jewish authorities" refers to religious leaders such as the priests and teachers of God's laws. They also had the authority to make judgments about non-religious matters as well.

* The Jewish leaders were the high priests, chief priests, and scribes (teachers of God's laws).
* Two main groups of Jewish leaders were the Pharisees and Saduccees.
* Seventy Jewish leaders met together in the Jewish Council in Jerusalem to make judgments about matters of law.
* Many Jewish leaders were proud and thought they were righteous. They were jealous of Jesus and wanted to harm him. They claimed to know God but did not obey him.
* Often the phrase "the Jews" referred to the Jewish leaders, especially in contexts where they were angry at Jesus and were trying to trick or harm him.
* These terms could also be translated as "Jewish rulers" or "men who ruled over the Jewish people" or "Jewish religious leaders."

(See also: [jew](../other/jew.md) **·** [chiefpriests](../other/chiefpriests.md) **·** [council](../other/council.md) **·** [highpriest](../kt/highpriest.md) **·** [pharisee](../other/pharisee.md) **·** [priest](../kt/priest.md) **·** [sadducee](../other/sadducee.md) **·** [scribe](../other/scribe.md))

## Bible References: ##

* [Exodus 16:22-23](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/exo/16/22)
* [John 02:17-19](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/jhn/02/17)
* [John 05:10-11](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/jhn/05/10)
* [John 05:16-18](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/jhn/05/16)
* [Luke 19:47-48](https://door43.org/en/bible/notes/luk/19/47)

## Examples from the Bible stories: ##

  __*[24-03](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/24-03)__ Many __religious leaders__ also came to be baptized by John, but they did not repent or confess their sins.
  __*[37-11](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/37-11)__ But the __religious leaders of the Jews__ were jealous, so they gathered together to plan how they could kill Jesus and Lazarus.
  __*[38-02](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/38-02)__ He (Judas) knew that the __Jewish leaders__ denied that Jesus was the Messiah and that they were plotting to kill him.
  __*[38-03](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/38-03)__ The __Jewish leaders__, led by the high priest, paid Judas thirty silver coins to betray Jesus.
  __*[39-05](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/39-05)__ The __Jewish leaders__ all answered the high priest, "He (Jesus) deserves to die!"
  __*[39-09](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/39-09)__ Early the next morning, the __Jewish leaders__ brought Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor.
  __*[39-11](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/39-11)__ But the __Jewish leaders__ and the crowd shouted, "Crucify him!"
  __*[40-09](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/40-09)__ Then Joseph and Nicodemus, two __Jewish leaders__ who believed Jesus was the Messiah, asked Pilate for Jesus' body.
  __*[44-07](https://door43.org/en/obs/notes/frames/44-07)__ The next day, the __Jewish leaders__ brought Peter and John to the high priest and the other __religious leaders__.