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P.1891 - §4 It
was altogether proper that the temple rulers and the officers of the Jewish
Sanhedrin should ask this question of anyone who presumed to teach and perform
in the extraordinary manner which had been characteristic of Jesus, especially
as concerned his recent conduct in clearing the temple of all commerce.
These traders and money-changers all operated by direct license from the
highest rulers, and a percentage of their gains was supposed to go directly
into the temple treasury. Do not forget that authority was the watchword
of all Jewry. The prophets were always stirring up trouble because they
so boldly presumed to teach without authority, without having been duly
instructed in the rabbinic academies and subsequently regularly ordained
by the Sanhedrin. Lack of this authority in pretentious public teaching
was looked upon as indicating either ignorant presumption or open rebellion.
At this time only the Sanhedrin could ordain an elder or teacher, and such
a ceremony had to take place in the presence of at least three persons
who had previously been so ordained. Such an ordination conferred
the title of "rabbi" upon the teacher and also qualified him to
act as a judge, "binding and loosing such matters as might be brought
to him for adjudication." |
