The leaders at Jerusalem had sent out spies to find some pretext for putting Christ to death. He responded by giving them an evidence of His love for humanity, His respect for the law, and His power to deliver from sin and death. Thus He bore witness of them: "They have rewarded Me evil for good, and hatred for My love." Ps. 109:5. He who on the mount gave the precept, "Love your enemies," Himself exemplified the principle, not rendering "evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing." Matt. 5:44; 1 Peter 3:9.

Lederne i Jerusalem havde udsendt spioner for at finde et påskud til at få Jesus dømt til døden. Hans svar bestod i at give dem et bevis for sin kærlighed til menneskeslægten, for sin respekt for loven og sin magt til at udfri fra synd og død. Således vidnede han om dem: "De gør mig ondt for godt, gengælder min kærlighed med had." Sl. 109,5. Han, som på bjerget gav dette bud: "Elsk jeres fjender!" gav selv eksemplet herpå ved ikke at gengælde "ondt med ondt, eller skældsord med skældsord, men derimod velsignelse". Matt. 5,44; 1Peter 3,9.