The Pharisees built the tombs of the prophets, and adorned their sepulchers, and said one to another, If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have united with them in shedding the blood of God's servants. At the same time they were planning to take the life of His Son. This should be a lesson to us. It should open our eyes to the power of Satan to deceive the mind that turns from the light of truth. Many follow in the track of the Pharisees. They revere those who have died for their faith. They wonder at the blindness of the Jews in rejecting Christ. Had we lived in His day, they declare, we would gladly have received His teaching; we would never have been partakers in the guilt of those who rejected the Saviour. But when obedience to God requires self-denial and humiliation, these very persons stifle their convictions, and refuse obedience. Thus they manifest the same spirit as did the Pharisees whom Christ condemned.

Farisæerne byggede gravmæler over profeterne og smykkede deres grave og sagde til hinanden: Hvis vi havde levet på vore fædres tid, så ville vi ikke have gjort fælles sag med dem ved at udgyde Guds tjeneres blod. Samtidig lagde de planer om at tage Guds Søns liv. Dette burde være en lære for os. Det burde åbne vore øjne for Satans magt til at bedrage de sjæle, der vender sig bort fra sandhedens lys. Mange følger i farisæernes fodspor. De ærer dem, som er døde for deres tros skyld. De undrer sig over, hvor blinde jøderne var, da de forkastede Kristus. Hvis vi havde levet på hans tid, siger de, så ville vi med glæde have taget imod hans lære. Vi ville aldrig have taget del i de menneskers forbrydelse, der forkastede Frelseren. Men når lydighed mod Gud kræver selvfornægtelse og ydmygelse, så dysser disse mennesker deres overbevisning i søvn og nægter at adlyde. På denne måde lægger de den samme ånd for dagen, som de farisæere, Kristus fordømte.