The rabbis of Christ’s day proudly regarded Judea, with its traditional learning and religious academies, as superior to the northern regions of Israel. A sentiment that they expressed with the following saying.
“If anyone wants to be rich, let him go north (to Galilee); if he wants to be wise, let him come south (to Judea).”
And they could not find words strong enough to express their arrogant dislike of their northern Galilean cousins, especially those from Nazareth. We see this attitude in John 1:46 when Nathanael asked, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” To which Philip replied, “Come and see.”
This attitude of superiority was also evident in the sneering remarks of the Pharisees to Nicodemus, “Are you also from Galilee? Search, and see that no prophet comes from Galilee.” Such attitudes were unfortunately all too common.
More than just snobbery
But there was more to it than mere superiority. It went much deeper than the superiority that city folk sometimes feel toward their country cousins. It was characteristic of the uncharitable spirit of the Pharisees, full of mockery and contempt. And also of the sense of their own self-righteousness, as shown by the Pharisee’s prayer in Christ’s parable of the proud Pharisee and the humble tax collector, Luke 18:9-14.
The rabbis, convinced of their own superiority as teachers of the law, believed that the unlearned (because they didn’t know the law as well) were under God’s curse.
Snobbery and contempt
This uncharitable attitude was even found in some rabbinical writings, such as in the following story:
A certain rabbi, while traveling, made the acquaintance of a man whom he at first considered his equal. One day, this new friend invited the rabbi to a fine dinner. But the rabbi, who had begun to see the man as his inferior, treated the man with hauteur and contempt. The rabbi, however, as was customary, asked the man to offer a toast and prayer.
But the poor man felt so humiliated by then that he merely replied in deference, “You are the learned Rabbi so you should give thanks.” The rabbi did so and added in contempt, “A dog [referring to his host] has eaten of my bread!”
This is my paraphrased version of a story from Sketches of Jewish Life, Chapter 3, by Alfred Edersheim; in the public domain.
Such was the religious climate into which Christ entered.
No wonder the people marveled at His teaching! His life and his very being, radiated love and acceptance. A complete contrast to the religious hypocrisy of the day.
Unlike the religious leaders around Him, Christ took children on His knee, touched the untouchables, and lifted contrite hearts from the dust of sin and bondage. And he still loves in the same amazing way today! No wonder people said, “No one has ever spoken like Him!”
Such unfathomable love still amazes people today!
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another
John 13:34-35
Images from FreeBibleImages.org: Priests | Making a toast
Signora Sheila 