The enmity kindled in the human heart against the gospel was keenly felt by the Son of God, and it was most painful to Him in His home; for His own heart was full of kindness and love, and He appreciated tender regard in the family relation. His brothers desired that He should concede to their ideas, when such a course would have been utterly out of harmony with His divine mission. They looked upon Him as in need of their counsel. They judged Him from their human point of view, and thought that if He would speak only such things as would be acceptable to the scribes and Pharisees, He would avoid the disagreeable controversy that His words aroused. They thought that He was beside Himself in claiming divine authority, and in placing Himself before the rabbis as a reprover of their sins. They knew that the Pharisees were seeking occasion to accuse Him, and they felt that He had given them sufficient occasion.

Det fjendskab, som var optændt i menneskers hjerter mod evangeliet, føltes dybt af Guds Søn, og i hans hjem var det ham alder sværest, thi hans eget hjerte var fuldt af venlighed og kærlighed, og han satte pris på venlig hensyntagen inden for sin familiekreds. Hans brødre ville have, at han skulle rette sig efter deres ideer, selv om en sådan fremgangsmåde ville have været ganske uforenelig med hans guddommelige sendelse. De betragtede ham som en, der trængte til deres råd. De bedømte ham ud fra deres menneskelige synspunkter og mente, at hvis han ville nøjes med at sige den slags ting, som de skriftkloge og farisæerne kunne godtage, så ville han undgå de ubehagelige meningsudvekslinger, som hans ord fremkaldte. De mente, at han måtte være ude af sig selv, når han hævdede at have guddommelig myndighed og ved over for de skriftkloge at optræde som den, der dadlede dem for deres synder. De vidste, at farisæerne søgte anledning til at anklage ham, og de var klare over, at han havde givet dem tilstrækkelig anledning.