By this accusation they insinuated that Christ liked to associate with the sinful and vile, and was insensible to their wickedness. The rabbis had been disappointed in Jesus. Why was it that one who claimed so lofty a character did not mingle with them and follow their methods of teaching? Why did He go about so unpretendingly, working among all classes? If He were a true prophet, they said, He would harmonize with them, and would treat the publicans and sinners with the indifference they deserved. It angered these guardians of society that He with whom they were continually in controversy, yet whose purity of life awed and condemned them, should meet, in such apparent sympathy, with social outcasts. They did not approve of His methods. They regarded themselves as educated, refined, and pre-eminently religious; but Christ's example laid bare their selfishness. 186

Med denne bemærkning antydede de, at Kristus syntes om at komme sammen med syndige og slette mennesker og at han ikke tog sig af, at de var onde. Rabbinerne var blevet skuffede over Jesus. Hvordan kunne det være, at en, der gav sig ud for at have så ophøjet en karakter ikke kom sammen med dem og fulgte deres undervisningsmetoder? Hvorfor gik han så fordringsløs omkring og virkede blandt alle samfundsklasser? Hvis han var en sand profet, sagde de, ville han passe sig ind med dem og behandle toldere og syndere på den ligegyldige måde, som de fortjente. Disse samfundets vogtere vrededes over at han, som de stadig var i modstrid med, og hvis rene liv alligevel imponerede og fordømte dem, ville omgås de forstødte med en så åbenlys sympati. De billigede ikke hans fremgangsmåde. De regnede sig selv for at være oplyste, dannede og i højeste grad religiøse, men Kristi eksempel blottede deres egenkærlighed.