Because their understanding was darkened by selfish prejudice, they could not harmonize the power of Christ's convicting words with the humility of His life. They did not appreciate the fact that real greatness can dispense with outward show. This Man's poverty seemed wholly inconsistent with His claim to be the Messiah. They questioned, If He was what He claimed to be, why was He so unpretending? If He was satisfied to be without the force of arms, what would become of their 243 nation? How could the power and glory so long anticipated bring the nations as subjects to the city of the Jews? Had not the priests taught that Israel was to bear rule over all the earth? and could it be possible that the great religious teachers were in error?

Fordi deres forståelse var formørket af selviske fordomme, kunne de ikke få kraften i Kristi overbevisende ord til at stemme overens med hans fattige tilværelse. De forstod ikke at værdsætte den kendsgerning, at virkelig storhed kan undvære ydre pragtudfoldelse. Denne mands fattigdom syntes at være ganske uforenelig med hans hævdelse af at være Messias. De spurgte: Hvis han var den, han gjorde krav på at være, hvorfor var han da så fordringsløs ? Hvis han var tilfreds med ikke at have nogen våbenmagt, hvad ville der så blive af deres folk ? Hvordan skulle den så længe forventede magt og ære gøre folkeslagene til den jødiske stads undersåtter ? Havde ikke præsterne lært dem, at Israel skulle blive hersker over hele jorden? Og kunne der være nogen mulighed for, at de store åndelige vejledere havde taget fejl?