The rabbis had waited anxiously to see what disposition Christ would make of this case. They recollected how the man had appealed to them for help, and they had refused him hope or sympathy. Not satisfied with this, they had declared that he was suffering the curse of God for his sins. These things came fresh to their minds when they saw the sick man before them. They marked the interest with which all were watching the scene, and they felt a terrible fear of losing their own influence over the people.

Rabbinerne havde med spændt opmærksomhed ventet på at se, hvordan Kristus ville gribe denne sag an. De huskede godt, at manden havde henvendt sig til dem for at få hjælp, og de havde hverken givet ham håb eller vist ham medlidenhed. Og ikke nok med dette: de havde erklæret, at han var under Guds forbandelse på grund af sine synder. Dette stod tydeligt for deres erindring, da de så den syge foran sig. De lagde mærke til den interesse, hvormed alle fulgte begivenhederne, og de blev frygtelig bange for at miste deres indflydelse over folket.