Why is it blasphemy?

[Wrangler]

One thing I never understood is the chief priests' response to Jesus's "I am" statement in confessing he is the Messiah in Mark 14:62. How is it blasphemy for the Messiah to admit he is the Messiah?

 

[MatthewG]

Didn't he say something like He was gonna sit on the right hand of God?

 

[Wrangler]

Didn't he say something like He was gonna sit on the right hand of God?

Who else but the Messiah should sit on the right hand of God? Not sure how it is blasphemy.

 

[Nancy]

Because in essence, He was saying that He is God is why they said "blaspheme".

 

[ScottA]

One thing I never understood is the chief priests' response to Jesus's "I am" statement in confessing he is the Messiah in Mark 14:62. How is it blasphemy for the Messiah to admit he is the Messiah?

It is because they considered Jesus to be a fake, thus against God.

 

[shepherdsword]

One thing I never understood is the chief priests' response to Jesus's "I am" statement in confessing he is the Messiah in Mark 14:62. How is it blasphemy for the Messiah to admit he is the Messiah?

Because he was referencing Ex 3:14

Ex 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

 

[David Lamb]

One thing I never understood is the chief priests' response to Jesus's "I am" statement in confessing he is the Messiah in Mark 14:62. How is it blasphemy for the Messiah to admit he is the Messiah?

Surely the point is that the High Priest, like most of the Jewish leaders, did not believe that Jesus of Nazareth could possibly be the promised Messiah, so from the High Priest's point of view, Jesus was a mere man claiming to be the Messiah of God. If Jesus had been just an ordinary man claiming to be the Messiah, that would indeed have been blasphemy. Praise God, though, the claim made by Jesus was absolutely true, and therefore not blasphemous.

 

[Wrangler]

the Jewish leaders, did not believe that Jesus of Nazareth could possibly be the promised Messiah, so from the High Priest's point of view, Jesus was a mere man claiming to be the Messiah of God.

Never have I heard that the truth is what blasphemy hinges on. By definition, blasphemy is accusing a character of God. For instance, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is asserting a negative attribute the God’s Spirit. Saying God is love is claiming a character of God but is not claiming a negative attribute.

In other threads, some imply it is blasphemous to acknowledge the implications of YHWH is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

the claim made by Jesus was absolutely true, and therefore not blasphemous.

I agree Jesus‘ “l am” statement is not blasphemous.

If someone claimed to be who I didn’t believe, I’d put it to the test. But we know the sham trial was not a search for truth.

 

[David Lamb]

Never have I heard that the truth is what blasphemy hinges on. By definition, blasphemy is accusing a character of God. For instance, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is asserting a negative attribute the God’s Spirit. Saying God is love is claiming a character of God but is not claiming a negative attribute.

In other threads, some imply it is blasphemous to acknowledge the implications of YHWH is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.


I agree Jesus‘ “l am” statement is not blasphemous.

If someone claimed to be who I didn’t believe, I’d put it to the test. But we know the sham trial was not a search for truth.

I agree that it was a sham trial, and the Chief Priests were not interested in the truth - they even called false witnesses!

 

[MatthewG]

The high priest didn’t call Jesus’ statement “blasphemy” simply because He admitted to being the Messiah. Claiming to be the Messiah wasn’t blasphemy in Judaism — many men before and after Jesus claimed that title and were not charged with blasphemy.

The issue is that Jesus claimed far more than “I am the Messiah.”

1. Jesus used the divine phrase “I AM” (ἐγώ εἰμι)​

This echoes God’s name in Exodus 3:14. The high priest understood exactly what Jesus was implying.

2. Jesus claimed the right to sit at God’s right hand​

He quoted Psalm 110:1:

“You will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power…”

To sit at God’s right hand is to share God’s throne, authority, and rule. No Jewish Messiah was ever expected to sit on God’s throne. That is a divine claim.

3. Jesus identified Himself as the Son of Man of Daniel 7​

He added:

“…and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

In Daniel 7:13–14, the “Son of Man”:

• comes on the clouds (a divine action)
• receives everlasting dominion
• is worshiped by all nations

Only God rides the clouds (Psalm 104:3; Isaiah 19:1). By applying this passage to Himself, Jesus claimed divine status.

4. This is why the high priest tore his robes​

Mark 14:63:

“You have heard the blasphemy!”

Not because Jesus said He was Messiah — but because He claimed:

• God’s name
• God’s throne
• God’s authority
• God’s glory
• God’s role as judge

To the high priest, this was a human being claiming equality with God.

5. And here’s the part people often miss: Jesus said this judgment would fall on them​

Jesus wasn’t talking about a far‑off future judgment. He was speaking directly to the council, the Sanhedrin, the leaders of Israel.

He said:

“YOU will see the Son of Man… coming with the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)

“YOU” = the men standing in that room.

This matches Jesus’ repeated warnings:

• “All these things will come upon this generation.” (Matthew 23:36)
• “You will see the Son of Man coming…” (Matthew 26:64)
• “These are the days of vengeance…” (Luke 21:22)

Historically, this is exactly what happened in 70 AD, when Jerusalem and the Temple were destroyed — the very judgment Jesus said would fall on that generation.

Historical context matters​

The Bible was not written directly to us. Jesus’ words in that courtroom were spoken to real people in a real moment, and His declaration of divine authority was also a declaration of impending judgment on the leaders of Israel who rejected Him.

That is why the high priest reacted so violently. Jesus wasn’t just claiming to be Messiah — He was claiming to be the divine Judge, and He was announcing judgment on them.