Why Didn the Jewish Leaders Execute Jesus?
Mark and Matthew agree that the Jewish leaders agreed that Jesus was guilty of “blasphemy.” Jewish law is very specific about the punishment for blasphemy: Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall certainly stone him. The alien as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death (Leviticus 24:16). It is clear that there was a large angry mob present, so getting a group together to stone Jesus doesn’t appear to have been a problem. According to Jewish Law the Jewish leaders had the power to condemn a person to death and then carry out the execution. The Hebrew Bible even specifies the manner of execution for specific violations of Jewish Law. Their options were limited to four specific methods of execution: (1) stoning (2) burning (3) decapitation (4) strangulation Nowhere in the Hebrew Bible will you find crucifixion listed as a lawful means of execution. Crucifixion was something done to Jews b
