On an essential level, the writer's Jewish perspective of Jesus is a personal reading of the relevant ancient texts. It focuses heavily on the trial because the question of Jewish involvement in Jesus' trial is key to this perspective. The article also examines the view of modern scholars who reckon the disputes recorded in the Gospels between Jesus and other teachers as the major cause for his arrest and death. It is the writer's contention that those disputes between the Jerusalem leadership and Jesus ring true enough; but neither individually nor yet cumulatively do they explain the enormity of the crucifixion. In order to elucidate this point the author examines some of the purportedly contentious teachings, such as those to do with the Temple, ritual purity, filial piety, Messiahship, and vicarious atonement.
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