Who Were the Chief Priests and Scribes Behind the Plot Against the Vegan Christ? By Dr. Chapman Chen
- Chapman Chen
- Mar 21
- 4 min read
Introduction: The crucifixion of Jesus was not simply a Roman execution—it was the climax of a deep, multi-layered, animal-rights-related conflict between Jesus and the religious-political establishment of Second Temple Judaism. At the heart of this establishment were two powerful groups: the chief priests and the scribes. Understanding who they were, what they believed, and how they operated politically reveals the profound significance of Jesus’ dramatic Temple action and its consequences—including His death.
1. The Chief Priests as Religious Leaders of the 2nd Temple Period
The chief priests mentioned in the Gospels were the leading religious authorities of the Second Temple period in Jerusalem. They were part of the Jewish priestly class, specifically from the tribe of Levi, and often from the Aaronic line—descendants of Aaron, Moses’ brother. The most senior among them was the High Priest, who presided over the Temple, religious festivals like Passover, which involved the massacre of 250,000 animals (Josephus, Antiquities), and the sacrificial cult central to Jewish worship at the time.
2. A Religion Centred on Animal Sacrifice
The chief priests practiced Second Temple Judaism, the form of Judaism that existed from the return from Babylonian exile (6th century BCE) to the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE. It was a religion centred on animal sacrifices performed in the Temple, observance of the fake Torah (Dershowitz & Tabor, 2021), ritual purity laws, pilgrimage festivals, and a rigid priestly hierarchy (Sanders, 1992).
3. Collaboration with the Roman Empire
Many chief priests belonged to the Sadducees, a religious-political group known for their strict adherence to the Written Torah, denial of resurrection or afterlife doctrines, elite status, and collaboration with Roman authorities (Josephus, Antiquities 13.10.6). The chief priests were not only religious figures but also political power-brokers, working with Rome to maintain stability as long as their religious and economic interests were protected.
4. The Scribes as Lying Interpreters of the Torah
The scribes (Greek: grammateis) were legal scholars and religious jurists, trained in Torah interpretation and copying sacred texts. Jeremiah the vegan prophet warns us about their “lying pen” (Jer. 8:8). Their functions included interpreting the Law of Moses, teaching in synagogues, drafting legal documents, and advising in religious courts (Brown, 1994). They were deeply committed to Second Temple Judaism and many were associated with the Pharisees, though some had ties to the Sadducees.
5. The Interpolation of Animal Sacrifice into Deuteronomy
Under Roman occupation, Jewish religious leaders—including scribes—exercised real political power. They advised the elite, interpreted law, enforced orthodoxy, and collaborated with Roman rule where it benefited them (Neusner, 1987). Based partly on the Shapira Manuscript and partly on textual analysis, Prof. James Tabor (2024) argues that the scribes, for their selfish interests inserted a complex set of animal sacrifice rituals between Deut. 11:26 and Deut. 27.
6. A Direct Attack on the Temple Economy by Jesus
In the eyes of the priestly and scribal establishment, Jesus' Temple raid was not just a symbolic protest. It was a direct attack on the sacrificial system that upheld their economic and political power (Akers, 2000, pp. 117–118). By releasing the animals, overturning the moneychangers' tables, and calling the Temple a “den of murderers” (Mark 11:15–18), Jesus exposed the corruption and violence of the Temple economy. His act echoed the prophetic tradition: “I desire compassion, not sacrifice” (Hosea 6:6, quoted in Matt. 9:13).
The Gospels portray the chief priests and scribes as conspiring to kill Jesus after the Temple action (Mark 14:1; Luke 22:2). His challenge to their authority, exposure of their hypocrisy, and threat to their financial interests made Him a dangerous figure. The scribes likely crafted the charges that led to His arrest. While Rome executed Him, the religious authorities orchestrated His downfall (Crossan, 1995).
7. A Compassionate Act of Animal Liberation
As theologians such as Keith Akers (2000), Prof. James Tabor (2024), and Pastor J. R. Hyland (1993), and Vicar James Thompson (1994) argue, Jesus’ assault on the Temple can be understood as an act of animal liberation—a direct challenge to the belief that God demands blood. It was a message of divine mercy, not sacrifice (Wright 2011:184-5; Joseph 2017:228; Hyland 1993).
8. Conclusion
Jesus didn’t die for our sins because God required blood. He died because He opposed bloodshed in God's name—and the scribes and priests, invested in a system of violence, conspired to kill Him.
References:
Akers, Keith (2000). The Lost Religion of Jesus: Simple Living and Nonviolence in Early Christianity. Lantern Books.
Brown, Raymond E. An Introduction to the New Testament. Doubleday, 1994.
Crossan, John Dominic. Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography. HarperOne, 1995.
Dershowitz, Idan and Tabor, James D. (2021). “The Shapira Scrolls: The Case for Authenticity.” Biblical Archaeology Review, Winter Issue. https://library.biblicalarchaeology.org/article/the-shapira-scrolls-the-case-for-authenticity/
Joseph, Simon J. (2016). Jesus and the Temple: The Crucifixion in Its Jewish Context. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Translated by William Whiston.
Neusner, Jacob. The Rabbinic Traditions about the Pharisees before 70. E.J. Brill, 1987.
Sanders, E.P. Judaism: Practice and Belief 63 BCE–66 CE. Trinity Press, 1992.
Tabor, James D. (2024). “Lost in Translation: The Jerusalem Temple as a Den of Ravenous Wild Beasts.” James Tabor (YouTube Channel), Jun 6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svCkRq9gR1U&t=61s
Tabor, James D. (2006). The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity. Simon & Schuster.
Wright, N. T. (2011). Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He
Did, and Why He Matters. New York: HarperOne.
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