In the son who said, "I go, sir," and went not, the character of the Pharisees was revealed. Like this son, the Jewish leaders were impenitent and self-sufficient. The religious life of the Jewish nation had become a pretense. When the law was proclaimed on Mount Sinai by the voice of God, all the people pledged themselves to obey. They said, "I go, sir," but they went not. When Christ came in person to set before them the principles of the law, they rejected Him. Christ had given the Jewish leaders of His day abundant evidence of His authority and divine power, but although they were convinced, they would not accept the evidence. Christ had shown them that they continued to disbelieve because they had not the spirit which leads to obedience. He had declared to them, "Ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. . . . In vain they do worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matt. 15:6, 9.

Den søn, som sagde: "Ja, herre," og ikke gik, åbenbarede farisæernes karakter de jødiske ledere var ligesom denne søn ubodfærdige og selvtilfredse. Det jødiske folks religiøse liv var blevet et udvortes skin af hellighed. Da loven blev forkyndt på Sinaj bjerg, lovede hele folket, at de ville adlyde Guds røst. De sagde: "Ja, Herre," men de gjorde det ikke. Da Kristus selv kom og fremlagde lovens principper for dem, forkastede de ham. Kristus havde givet sin samtids jøder utallige beviser på sin magt og guddommelige kraft, men selv om de var overbeviste, ville de ikke antage beviserne. Kristus havde vist dem, at de vedblev at vægre sig ved at tro, fordi de ikke var i besiddelse af den ånd, der leder til lydighed. Han havde sagt til dem: "I har sat Guds lov ud af kraft for jeres overleverings skyld ..... Det er forgæves, de dyrker mig, når de fører lærdomme, som kun er menneskebud."