In the days of Christ the leaders and teachers of Israel were powerless to resist the work of Satan. They were neglecting the only means by which they could have withstood evil spirits. It was by the word of God that Christ overcame the wicked one. The leaders of Israel professed to be the expositors of God's word, but they had studied it only to sustain their traditions, and enforce their man-made observances. By their interpretation they made it express sentiments that God had never given. Their mystical construction made indistinct that which He had made plain. They disputed over insignificant technicalities, and practically denied the most essential truths. Thus infidelity was sown broadcast. God's word was robbed of its power, and evil spirits worked their will.

På Kristi tid var Israels ledere og lærere ude af stand til at modstå Satans virke. De forsømte det eneste middel, hvorved de ville kunne have modstået de onde ånder. Det var ved Guds ord, at Kristus overvandt den onde. Israels ledere hævdede at være fortolkere af Guds ord, men de havde kun gransket det til støtte for deres egne overleveringer og for at påtvinge andre deres selvlavede skikke og ceremonier. Gennem deres fortolkning fik de det til at give udtryk for meninger, som Gud aldrig havde tænkt. Deres hemmelighedsfulde udlægning gjorde ting uforståelige, som Gud havde sagt tydeligt. De skændtes om ubetydelige formelle enkeltheder og fornægtede i virkeligheden de mest væsentlige sandheder. På denne måde såedes vantroens frø vidt og bredt. Guds ord blev berøvet sin kraft, og de onde ånder fik det, som de ville.