A Meticulous Biblical Accounting of the Role of Jews in the Harassment, Arrest, Beating, and Assassination of Jesus

This wasn't a conversation I ever planned on having - and certainly I never imagined the day I'd defend Tucker Carlson - but here we are. It must be done.

Have you ever heard of a Rorschach Test? Some people call it an ink blot test. It’s simply where you show a person an inkblot and ask them what they see, in an attempt to get a glimpse into their psyche. The video above is absolutely a Rorschach Test. Everybody who sees and hears it sees and hears something wildly different.

On this past Sunday, at the funeral for Charlie Kirk, the conservative leader who was murdered about two weeks ago, Tucker Carlson was invited to speak. And of course he was. He was friends with Charlie Kirk, is a fellow Christian, and is one of the most well known conservatives in America. And in the viral clip I shared above, Tucker Carlson did something that I’ve heard done several hundred times in my life. And it is now clear to me that if you have never been a practicing Christian, it may sound odd at best or insane at worst.

He compared the death of Charlie Kirk, who he called a Christian evangelist at the beginning of this clip, to the death of Jesus. If you are not a Christian - maybe such a comparison is shocking, but it’s very common in Christian religious circles - including in the Black Church - where you may often hear a phrase like, “If they’d kill Jesus, what ever made you think they wouldn’t come for you?” Or I’ve also heard it like this, literally directed at me my entire life,

“Shaun, you are in good company. They talked bad about Jesus and even killed him - so of course they will come for you just like they do every leader we love.”

In all of the times I heard this metaphor - the people saying it to me or around me - WERE NOT TALKING ABOUT MODERN DAY JEWS. They were not saying, “If those Jews back then would kill Jesus, then surely the Jews today will do the same thing to you Shaun.” They simply meant people in power. And it was never meant to put me, or Charlie Kirk, or anyone else on the level of Jesus. Quite the opposite - the point was always to say that if the single most important person in the religion suffered, then what makes any of us think it will be any different for us.

I don’t know Tucker Carlson. When he was on Fox News, he invited me to debate him a few times, but I always declined. I can’t say for sure what he meant in this little clip, which has now been shared and viewed hundreds of millions of times in the past 48 hours, but two things I am clear that he did not say.

1. He did not say in this clip, or anywhere else on the Internet, that Jews killed Charlie Kirk. In fact he has expressly said countless times that he is not saying this.

2. He did not even say in the clip that Jews killed Jesus. People are inferring that’s what he meant from the single use of the word “hummus,” but forgive me, when I think of hummus, I don’t think of Jews - not at all. Maybe he was saying this - and it’s in that place of tension that I want to remain.

As you may know, I am now a devout Muslim. I’ve spent most of the past 2 years growing and developing myself as a Muslim. However, I was a Christian my entire adult life - and for 15 years I was a Pastor - including many years as a Senior Pastor.

I studied the Bible at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky, Columbia Theological Seminary in Atlanta, and Princeton Theological Seminary in New Jersey. I preached hundreds and hundreds of sermons in my life and the Biblical account of Jesus is an area of expertise for me.

Something Very Strange Happened Yesterday

For about 12 hours, in what appeared to be a concerted effort on behalf of Zionists and Jews around the world, Twitter, now called X, was flooded with people calling Tucker Carlson anti-semitic for “saying Jews killed Jesus” and for saying “Jew killed Charlie Kirk.”

I wrote this tweet in response:

I absolutely, completely 100% stand by this tweet.

What followed, though, was INSANE. I received dozens and dozens of DM’s and emails and even some texts, almost universally from Jewish men and women that I know, almost all who I have not heard from in at least 5 years, and they were shocked, hurt, and disgusted that I would claim that the Bible states Jews had anything to do with the death of Jesus.

Color me shocked: But I had no earthly idea that modern day Jews denied this.

The Bible is emphatically clear that Jews harassed Jesus in a hundred different ways, actually tried to kill him multiple times, beat him, cursed him, openly told lies about him, plotted again to kill him, paid a Jewish friend of Jesus to betray him, then arrested him, demanded that he be killed by the Roman government, then openly mocked the Roman leaders when they refused to do so.

I’ve spent the past 24 hours or so taking a deep dive to give you all a very meticulous Biblical perspective on just how much Jews in the time of Jesus harassed him, hurt him, lied on him, attempted to kill him, then plotted again to kill him, then, according to the Bible, had him arrested and killed.

Before I do so, I want to make a very important point.

The modern State of Israel completely relies on ancient Hebrew texts like Torah, which pre-date the New Testament, as not only for their justification for why the land belongs to them, but they use those texts to justify the genocide.

The Prime Minister of Israel, his cabinet, and millions of Israelis and Jews around the world speak of the ancient Jews in ancient religious texts as being not only their ancestors, but their present-day justification for how they are administering a colonial land grab, ethnic cleansing, and genocide.

So - I reject outright the notion that these ancient texts are irrelevant to modern day Israel or modern day Jews because it’s modern day Israel and modern day Jews that daily say they are super-relevant to our present day lives.

I invite each of you to study these texts on your own.

Frankly, what I am about to tell you is something akin to the ABC’s of Christianity. It’s foundational. It’s basic. But we live in a world where we should never assume anybody actually knows much of anything. So let me explain it to you the best I can.

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Attempts and Plots to Kill Jesus

As you may know, in the Biblical telling of the life of Jesus, he is eventually killed. I am going to take you through the Biblical history of all the things Jews did to Jesus leading up to that moment in the Bible.

I encourage you to look any of these passages up for yourself.

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Luke 4:28–30

They were all filled with wrath in the synagogue, as they heard these things. They rose up, threw Jesus out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff. But he, passing through the middle of them, went his way.

Opponents: Jewish townspeople in Nazareth
Action: Attempt to kill Jesus.

This story surprises people because it’s not mentioned often, but early in the life and ministry of Jesus, his fellow Jews tried to kill him by trying to throw him off of a cliff, but he escaped.

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Matthew 12:9–14

…There was a man with a withered hand. They asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” that they might accuse him… Then the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Plot to destroy him.

Here, a sect of Jews called the Pharisees literally began planning, again early in the public ministry of Jesus, on how they could “destroy him.”

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Mark 3:1–6

He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered. They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.

He said to the man who had his hand withered, “Stand up.” He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” But they were silent.

When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.

The Pharisees went out, and immediately with the Herodians conspired against him, how they might destroy him.

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect), Herodians (Jewish political sect)
Action: Plot to kill him.

Here, we now have two primary sects of Jews from the day now coming together in a plot to “destroy” Jesus.

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Luke 6:6–11

…The scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, that they might find an accusation against him… But they were filled with rage, and talked with one another about what they might do to Jesus.

Opponents: Scribes, Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Rage, plotting harm.

Now we see scribes and Pharisees, two different groups of the respected Jews of the day, “filled with rage” over Jesus and beginning to plot against him.

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Plots and Surveillance

It only got worse for Jesus. In the early days of his public ministry, which only lasted about three years, they were already attempting to push him off a cliff and plotting against him any way they could, but it actually ramped up.

Matthew 12:14

But the Pharisees went out, and conspired against him, how they might destroy him.

Mark 3:6

The Pharisees went out, and immediately with the Herodians conspired against him, how they might destroy him.

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect) with Herodians (Jewish political sect)
Action: Plot to kill.

These two verses are nearly identical but the Gospel of Mark included the Herodians.

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Luke 11:53–54

As he said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be terribly angry, and to draw many questions out of him, lying in wait for him, and seeking to catch him in something he might say, that they might accuse him.

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish Sect), scribes
Action: Surveillance.

Now they are watching his every move, “lying in wait for him,” and hoping he says something that will justify killing him.

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Luke 20:19–20

The scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him that very hour, but they feared the people—for they knew he had spoken this parable against them. They watched him, and sent out spies, who pretended to be righteous, that they might trap him in something he said, so as to deliver him up to the power and the authority of the governor.

Opponents: Scribes, Chief Priests (Of the Jews)
Action: Plot, espionage.

Now the Chief Priests of the Jews and their minions are literally trying to physically grab Jesus and turn him over to be executed.

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John 7:32

The Pharisees heard… and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect), chief priests (of the Jews)
Action: Attempted arrest.

Now, as word gets out that the Chief Priests want to arrest Jesus, the Pharisees hear about it and send officers out to arrest him.

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Open Hostility / Attempts to Kill

John 8:59

Therefore they took up stones to throw at him, but Jesus was hidden, and went out of the temple, having gone through the middle of them, and so passed by.

Opponents: Jews
Action: Attempted stoning.

This is the second known assassination attempt of the Jews against Jesus. This time they literally attempted to stone him to death. Earlier they tried to push him off of a cliff.

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John 10:31, 39

The Jews took up stones again to stone him. …They sought again to seize him.

Opponents: Jews
Action: Attempted stoning/arrest.

This is the third attempt by the Jews to kill Jesus - again taking up stones to stone him to death.

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Formal Plots and Trials

Now, after nearly three years of making life hell on earth for Jesus, the plots to kill him spiraled out of control.

Matthew 26:3–5

Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas. They took counsel together that they might take Jesus by deceit, and kill him. But they said, “Not during the feast, lest a riot occur among the people.”

Opponents: Chief Priests, scribes, elders, court of the high Priest, and the High Priest Caiaphas
Action: Plot to finally kill Jesus

Now, virtually every sect of Jewish society has come together to kill Jesus. Notice that they are openly willing to be deceitful to do so.

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Mark 14:1–2

It was now two days before the feast of the Passover and the unleavened bread, and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might seize him by deception, and kill him. For they said, “Not during the feast, because there might be a riot among the people.”

This is a slightly different telling of the same instance detailed above in Matthew 26.

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Luke 22:2

The chief priests and the scribes sought how they might put him to death, for they feared the people.

Opponents: Priests, scribes, elders (of the Jews)
Action: Conspiracy.

Now everybody is just openly admitting at this point that their primary goal is to kill Jesus. Up to this point, only Jews are involved.

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Matthew 26:14–16

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests, and said, “What are you willing to give me, that I should deliver him to you?” They weighed out for him thirty pieces of silver. From that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

Mark 14:10–11

Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests, that he might deliver him to them. When they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. He sought how he might conveniently deliver him.

Luke 22:3–6

Satan entered into Judas, who was also called Iscariot, who was counted with the twelve. He went away, and talked with the chief priests and captains about how he might deliver him to them. They were glad, and agreed to give him money. He consented, and sought an opportunity to deliver him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Opponents: Judas and the chief priests of the Jews
Action: In these three passages in Matthew, Mark, and Luke the Chief Priest of the Jews bribed a Jewish follower of Jesus named Judas to betray him

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Matthew 26:59–60, 66

Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death, and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward…

…They answered, “He is worthy of death!”

Opponents + Action: The chief priests, elders, and council (Sanhedrin - which was like a combination between a senate and a legislative body) sought false testimony and condemned him to death.

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Mark 14:55–56, 64–65

Now the chief priests and the whole council sought witnesses against Jesus to put him to death, and found none. For many gave false testimony against him, and their testimony didn’t agree…

They all condemned him to be worthy of death. Some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to beat him with fists, and to tell him, “Prophesy!” The officers struck him with the palms of their hands.

Opponents + Action: The Sanhedrin sought false witnesses, condemned him to death, and mocked and beat him.

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Luke 22:66–71

As soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes, and they led him away into their council, saying, “If you are the Christ, tell us.”

But he said to them, “If I tell you, you won’t believe, and if I ask, you will in no way answer me or let me go. From now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God.”

They all said, “Are you then the Son of God?” He said to them, “You say it, because I am.”

They said, “Why do we need any more witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth!”

Opponents + Action: The elders, chief priests, scribes, and council (Sanhedrin) interrogated him, rejected his claim, and condemned him without further witnesses.

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Matthew 27:1–2

Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. They bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

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Mark 15:1

Immediately in the morning the chief priests, with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, bound Jesus, carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

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Luke 23:1–2

The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate. They began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man perverting the nation, forbidding paying taxes to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.”

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John 18:28–31

They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover. Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

They answered him, “If this man weren’t an evildoer, we wouldn’t have delivered him up to you.”

Pilate therefore said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.”

Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.”

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John 19:6–7, 12

When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

…At this, Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you are not Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”

Opponents + Action: The chief priests, elders, scribes, and crowds of the Jews delivered Jesus to Pilate, accused him falsely, and demanded crucifixion — crying out “Crucify!” and pressuring Pilate with political threats.

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In the Book of Acts Look How They Describe Who Betrayed and Executed Jesus

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Acts 3:13–15

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had determined to release him. But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead, to which we are witnesses.

Opponents + Action: The people of Jerusalem denied Jesus, chose Barabbas, and killed the Prince of life.

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Acts 4:5–7, 10

In the morning, their rulers, elders, and scribes were gathered together in Jerusalem. Annas the high priest was there, with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and as many as were relatives of the high priest. When they had stood Peter and John in the middle of them, they inquired, “By what power, or in what name, have you done this?” … be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole.

Opponents + Action: Rulers, elders, scribes, and priests were told directly: you crucified Jesus.

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Acts 4:25–27

…who by the mouth of your servant, David, said,
“‘Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take a stand,
and the rulers take council together,
against the Lord, and against his Christ.’

“For truly, in this city against your holy Servant, Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever your hand and your council foreordained to happen.

Opponents + Action: The people of Israel, along with their rulers, joined Gentiles to oppose Jesus.

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Acts 5:30

The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree.

Opponents + Action: The Sanhedrin was told: you killed Jesus.

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Acts 7:51–52

“You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit! As your fathers did, so you do. Which of the prophets didn’t your fathers persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become betrayers and murderers.”

Opponents + Action: The council was condemned for being betrayers and murderers of Jesus.

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Acts 13:27–29

For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed. When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.

Opponents + Action: The inhabitants of Jerusalem and their rulers condemned Jesus and pressed Pilate to kill him.

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Paul’s Letters

1 Thessalonians 2:14–15

For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and don’t please God, and are contrary to all men.

Opponents + Action: Paul names the Jews as those who killed Jesus and the prophets, persecuted the apostles, and opposed the gospel.

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Other examples from the Gospels of Jews harassing and opposing Jesus at every turn

Matthew 13:54–58

Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?” They were offended by him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country and in his own house.” He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Opponents: Jewish townspeople in Nazareth
Action: Offended, refused belief.

Mark 6:2–6

When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?”… They were offended at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.” He could do no mighty work there… He marveled because of their unbelief.

Opponents: Jewish townspeople in Nazareth
Action: Offended, unbelief.

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Accusations of Blasphemy (Forgiving sins)

Matthew 9:2–3

…Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.” Behold, some of the Jewish scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”

Opponents: Jewish scribes
Action: Blasphemy charge.

Mark 2:5–7

…Jesus said, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.” But there were some of the scribes sitting there… saying, “Why does this man speak like that? He blasphemes. Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Opponents: Jewish scribes
Action: Accusation of blasphemy.

Luke 5:20–21

…He said, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

Opponents: Jewish scribes, Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Accused of blasphemy.

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Criticism for Eating with Sinners

Matthew 9:10–11

…When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Criticism.

Mark 2:15–16

…The scribes of the Pharisees… said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

Opponents: Pharisees’ scribes (Jewish sect)
Action: Criticism.

Luke 5:29–30

…The Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”

Opponents: Pharisees, scribes (Jewish Sect)
Action: Complaints.

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Sabbath Disputes

Matthew 12:1–2

…His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and to eat. But the Pharisees… said, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish Sect)
Action: Accusation.

Mark 2:23–24

…His disciples began… to pluck the ears of grain. The Pharisees said… “Why do they do that which is not lawful on the Sabbath day?”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Accusation.

Luke 6:1–2

…Some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do that which is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Accusation.

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Accusations of Demonic Power

Matthew 9:34

The Pharisees said, “By the prince of the demons, he casts out demons.”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Accused of demonic power.

Matthew 12:24

The Pharisees… said, “This man does not cast out demons, except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Accusation.

Mark 3:22

The scribes… said, “He has Beelzebul,” and, “By the prince of the demons he casts out the demons.”

Opponents: Scribes from Jerusalem
Action: Accusation.

Luke 11:15

Some… said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons.”

Opponents: Some Jews
Action: Accusation.

John 8:48

The Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”

Opponents: Jewish leaders/opponents
Action: Accusation.

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Demands for Signs

Matthew 16:1–4

The Pharisees and Sadducees… asked him to show them a sign from heaven. …He sighed deeply… “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign.”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect), Sadducees (Ultra-rich Jewish sect)
Action: Demand for proof.

Mark 8:11–12

The Pharisees… asked him for a sign… He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign?”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Demand for a sign.

Luke 11:16, 29

Others, testing him, sought from him a sign from heaven. …“This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign.”

Opponents: Some Jews
Action: Demand for a sign.

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Trap Questions

Matthew 19:3; Mark 10:2

Pharisees came to him, testing him, and saying, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect)
Action: Test trap.

Matthew 21:23; Mark 11:27–28; Luke 20:1–2

…The chief priests and the elders… said, “By what authority do you do these things? Who gave you this authority?”

Opponents: Chief priests, elders, scribes (Of the Jews)
Action: Challenge authority.

Matthew 22:15–22; Mark 12:13–17; Luke 20:20–26

They sent… to trap him in his words. “Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Opponents: Pharisees (Jewish sect), Herodians (Jewish political sect), spies (everyday Jews)
Action: Political trap.