In the days of Christ these lessons had been lost sight of. Men had well-nigh ceased to discern God in His works. The sinfulness of humanity had cast a pall over the fair face of creation; and instead of manifesting God, His works became a barrier that concealed Him. Men "worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator." Thus the heathen "became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." Rom. 1:25, 21. So in Israel, man's teaching had been put in the place of God's. Not only the things of nature, but the sacrificial service and the Scriptures themselves--all given to reveal God--were so perverted that they became the means of concealing Him.

På Kristi tid havde man tabt disse lærdomme af syne. Menneskene var næsten ophørt med at se Gud i hans skaberværk. Menneskehedens syndighed havde ligesom kastet et dække over det skabte, og i stedet for at åbenbare Gud blev hans skaberværk et slør der skjulte ham. Menneskene ærede og dyrkede skabningen frem for Skaberen. Således blev hedningernes tanker tomme, og deres uforstandige hjerte blev formørket. I Israel var menneskets lærdomme også sat i stedet for Guds. Det var ikke alene ting i naturen, men offertjenesten og selve skrifterne, som alle var givet for at åbenbare Gud, der var så forvanskede, at de medvirkede til at skjule ham.