What motivation drives the Pharisees to oppose Jesus?

The Pharisees’ opposition to Jesus, as seen in Luke 6:11, highlights a profound spiritual blindness driven by legalism and self-righteousness. They were filled with madness, fearing that their authority and tradition would be challenged by Jesus’ acts of mercy on the Sabbath. Rather than humbly recognizing God's work in Christ, their hearts remained hardened, showcasing the continual conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdom of man. This illustrates the truth that those who cling to self-righteousness often find themselves in opposition to God's grace, as they cannot accept the radical nature of Jesus' teachings and actions which liberate the distressed and confront hypocrisy. Their efforts reveal the deep-seated animosity present between the religion of man and the mercy of God, culminating in their desire to destroy Jesus for His acts of compassion.