1
a : the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God
b : the act of claiming the attributes of deity
2
: irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable
Matthew 26:57-68 (NASB)
[SUP]57 [/SUP]Those who had seized Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together. [SUP]58 [/SUP]But Peter was following Him at a distance as far as the courtyard of the high priest, and entered in, and sat down with the [SUP][
p][/SUP]officers to see the outcome.
[SUP]59 [/SUP]Now the chief priests and the whole [SUP][
q][/SUP]Council kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus, so that they might put Him to death. [SUP]60 [/SUP]They did not find
any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later on two came forward, [SUP]61 [/SUP]and said, “This man stated, ‘I am able to destroy the [SUP][
r][/SUP]temple of God and to rebuild it [SUP][
s][/SUP]in three days.’” [SUP]62 [/SUP]The high priest stood up and said to Him, “Do You not answer? What is it that these men are testifying against You?” [SUP]63 [/SUP]But Jesus kept silent.
And the high priest said to Him, “I [SUP][t][/SUP]adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are [SUP][u][/SUP]the Christ, the Son of God.” [SUP]64 [/SUP]Jesus *said to him, “You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, [SUP][v][/SUP]hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
[SUP]65 [/SUP]
Then the high priest tore his [SUP][w][/SUP]robes and said, “He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;[SUP]66 [/SUP]what do you think?” They answered, “He deserves death!”
[SUP]67 [/SUP]Then they spat in His face and beat Him with their fists; and others [SUP][
x][/SUP]slapped Him, [SUP]68 [/SUP]and said, “Prophesy to us, You [SUP][
y][/SUP]Christ; who is the one who hit You?”
Mark 14:53-65 (NASB)
[SUP]53 [/SUP]They led Jesus away to the high priest; and all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes *gathered together. [SUP]54 [/SUP]Peter had followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest; and he was sitting with the [SUP][
w][/SUP]officers and warming himself at the [SUP][
x][/SUP]fire. [SUP]55 [/SUP]Now the chief priests and the whole [SUP][
y][/SUP]Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. [SUP]56 [/SUP]For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. [SUP]57 [/SUP]Some stood up and
began to give false testimony against Him, saying, [SUP]58 [/SUP]“We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this [SUP][
z][/SUP]temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.’” [SUP]59 [/SUP]Not even in this respect was their testimony consistent. [SUP]60 [/SUP]The high priest stood up
and came forward and questioned Jesus, saying, “Do You not answer? [SUP][
aa][/SUP]What is it that these men are testifying against You?” [SUP]61 [/SUP]But He kept silent and did not answer.
Again the high priest was questioning Him, and [SUP][ab][/SUP]saying to Him, “Are You [SUP][ac][/SUP]the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” [SUP]62 [/SUP]
And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” [SUP]63 [/SUP]
Tearing his clothes, the high priest *said, “What further need do we have of witnesses? [SUP]64 [/SUP]You have heard the blasphemy; how does it seem to you?” And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. [SUP]65 [/SUP]Some began to spit at Him, and [SUP][
ad][/SUP]to blindfold Him, and to beat Him with their fists, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers [SUP][
ae][/SUP]received Him with [SUP][
af][/SUP]slaps
in the face.
John 10:31-33 (NASB)
[SUP]31 [/SUP]The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. [SUP]32 [/SUP]Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” [SUP]33 [/SUP]The Jews answered Him, “
For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.”
Clearly the Jews understood Jesus' comments to be definition 1 b -- the act of claiming the attributes of deity. Since there is only one God (YHWH), they understood that Jesus was claiming to be Him.