The Pharisees’ enmity against Jesus at this stage in his ministry is rooted in jealousy over how he, by means of his preaching (Matthew 7:29) and the miracles he conducts, has more influence upon the people. Their motive of self-preservation soon leads to sin against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:24).
It is quite significant that in Matthew 9:33–34 the Pharisees and the crowd are at odds with regard to their assessment of Jesus’ ministry. Is he to be honoured as the Messiah or not? Is he the Lord of Israel, or is he a false prophet sent by the devil? In the midst of this confusion and division, Jesus’ presence among them remains a mystery. On the one hand he allows people to call him the Son of David without correcting them. On the other hand, he emphatically avoids the messianic honour others want to bestow upon him. As such he seemed to some to be a walking contradiction.1
The enmity of the Pharisees against Jesus at this stage in his ministry, however, needs to be understood in light of the fact that he, by means of his preaching (Matthew 7:29) and the miracles he conducts, stole away their influence upon the people. Considering that course of events, then one can still speak of their hostility and hatred at this time as rooted in an attempt at self-preservation, especially following the astonishment of the crowd. As the power of this delusion continues to work, however, it soon transforms into sin against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:24).2
34 But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”