Luke 2.34: And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed (35) (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that the thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.” (ESV)
The words of Simeon regarding the opposition that will come against Jesus can easily be seen coming true in the Gospel accounts. In the Gospel of Matthew, there is a record of the religious leaders known as the Pharisees coming against Jesus at almost every turn. But they were no match for Jesus. This is especially seen when they were opposing him face to face. The Pharisees were legal minded keepers of rules devised by men, and they were not interested in living their lives with the genuine spirit and truth of worship that is in accord with God. I’ll not try to come up with something positive to say about them. The Pharisees were frauds who were guardians of the profitable status quo.
And the Pharisees were relentless in their opposition to Jesus. In Matthew chapter 12, Jesus healed a man who was demon-oppressed, blind and mute. Rather than being happy about this, the Pharisees response to the event was to assert that Jesus did this by the power of the prince of demons, Beelzebub. Thereafter they would test Jesus with their little question and answer games, but Jesus always put them in their places with the proper interpretation of scripture.
After Jesus entered Jerusalem during the final week of his life prior to his crucifixion, the chief priests and the elders of the people opposed Jesus, demanding him to defend the credentials of his authority. And in Matthew 22.41-46 it is recorded that Jesus asked them a question about the Christ, as he is the son of David. Verse 46 says, “And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.” (ESV). The tactics of the opposition then became a plot and betrayal by Judas Iscariot during the week Jesus was crucified.