The Pharisees were silenced for the time, but only became more determined in their enmity. They next sought out the disciples of John the Baptist, and tried to set them against the Saviour. These Pharisees had not accepted the mission of the Baptist. They had pointed in scorn to his abstemious life, his simple habits, his coarse garments, and had declared him a fanatic. Because he denounced their hypocrisy, they had resisted his words, and had tried to stir up the people against him. The 276 Spirit of God had moved upon the hearts of these scorners, convicting them of sin; but they had rejected the counsel of God, and had declared that John was possessed of a devil.

Farisæerne blev for en tid bragt til tavshed, men kun for at blive endnu mere afgjorte i deres fjendskab. Næste gang fandt de nogle af Johannes Døbers disciple og prøvede at ophidse dem mod Frelseren. Farisæerne havde ikke anerkendt Døberens gerning. De havde med foragt henledt opmærksomheden på hans mådeholdne tilværelse, hans grove klæder, og havde erklæret ham for at være en fanatiker. Fordi han fordømte deres hykleri, havde de stået hans ord imod og forsøgt at ophidse folket imod ham. Guds ånd havde talt til disse spotteres hjerter og overbevist dem om synd, men de havde forkastet Guds råd og havde erklæret, at Johannes var besat af Djævelen.