From John 7
Jesus is plainly, openly, among his people doing miracles. Yet there is confusion among them. Some believed and some did not. The anti-Jesus ones had these arguments: "the Messiah is supposed to come from Bethlehem, but this guy comes from Nazareth. This guy has never been to seminary." We have doubts about things because we do not know all there is to know, as some of Jesus’ contemporaries did not know that Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem. Jesus had just said "if any man will do his [God’s] will, be shall know of the doctrine whether it be of God, or whether I, speak of myself." The one that does God's will knows that Jesus is of God.
The Pharisees wanted the people to believe as they believed, and they used themselves as the example and rationale: they said, "Have any of us (the Pharisees) believed on him? We have all gone to seminary and are smart and understand what those who have not gone to seminary cannot understand. To know if you are correct in your thinking look at what the seminary grads are thinking . . . but this people, who do not know the law (because they have not gone to seminary), are cursed."
We think we are not so smug as the Pharisees, but before we go too far along that line of reasoning let us look inward to make sure we are not ourselves being arrogant. Do you read the Bible? so did they. They achieved some of their knowledge from listening to others, and so have you. Among the Pharisees were good men, like Nicodemus. In our inward parts may lurk a little pharisee; beware.
