While the Jews desired the advent of the Messiah, they had no true 30 conception of His mission. They did not seek redemption from sin, but deliverance from the Romans. They looked for the Messiah to come as a conqueror, to break the oppressor's power, and exalt Israel to universal dominion. Thus the way was prepared for them to reject the Saviour. At the time of the birth of Christ the nation was chafing under the rule of her foreign masters, and racked with internal strife. The Jews had been permitted to maintain the form of a separate government; but nothing could disguise the fact that they were under the Roman yoke, or reconcile them to the restriction of their power. The Romans claimed the right of appointing and removing the high priest, and the office was often secured by fraud, bribery, and even murder. Thus the priesthood became more and more corrupt. Yet the priests still possessed great power, and they employed it for selfish and mercenary ends. The people were subjected to their merciless demands, and were also heavily taxed by the Romans. This state of affairs caused widespread discontent. Popular outbreaks were frequent. Greed and violence, distrust and spiritual apathy, were eating out the very heart of the nation.

Skønt jøderne længtes efter Messias komme, havde de ingen sand opfattelse af hans opgave i verden. De søgte ikke forløsning fra synden, men befrielse fra romerne. De så hen til, at Messias skulle komme som en erobrer, der ville bryde undertrykkelsens åg og ophøje Israel til et verdensherredømme. Således var vejen banet for dem til at forkaste Frelseren. Ved tidspunktet for Kristi fødsel var folket opirret over sine fremmede herrer og plaget af indre stridigheder. Jøderne havde fået tilladelse til formelt at opretholde en særskilt regering; men intet kunne tilsløre den kendsgerning, at de var under romernes åg, eller forsone dem med indskrænkningerne i deres magt. Romerne krævede ret til at ansætte og atter afsætte ypperstepræsten, og dette embede blev ofte erhvervet gennem bedrageri, bestikkelse og endog ved mord. På denne måde blev præsteskabet mere og mere fordærvet. Alligevel besad præsterne stadig stor magt, og de udnyttede den til egoistiske og kræmmeragtige formål. Folket var genstand for deres barmhjertige krav og var også hårdt beskattede af romerne. Denne tilstand i forholdene forårsagede misfornøjelse alle vegne. Der skete tit oprør blandt folket. Pengebegærlighed og vold, mistillid og åndelig sløvhed var ved at slide sjælen ud af befolkningen.