John the Baptist came preaching truth, and by his preaching sinners were convicted and converted. These would go into the kingdom of heaven before the ones who in self-righteousness resisted the solemn warning. The publicans and harlots were ignorant, but these learned men knew the way of truth. Yet they refused to walk in the path which leads to the Paradise of God. The truth that should have been to them a savor of life unto life became a savor of death unto death. Open sinners who loathed themselves had received baptism at the hands of John; but these teachers were hypocrites. Their own stubborn hearts were the obstacle to their receiving the truth. They resisted the conviction of the Spirit of God. They refused obedience to God's commandments.

Johannes Døber kom og prædikede sandheden, og syndere blev overbevist og omvendt ved hans forkyndelse. Disse ville gå ind i Himmeriget før dem, der i deres selvretfærdighed modstod advarslen. Tolderne og skøgerne var uvidende, hvorimod disse lærde mænd kendte sandhedens vej. Men de ville alligevel ikke gå på den sti, der fører til Guds rige. Den sandhed, der skulle have været en livets duft til liv for dem, blev en dødens duft til død. Mennesker som havde levet i åbenlys synd, og som hadede sig selv for det, var blevet døbt af Johannes, men disse lærere var hyklere. Deres egne forstokkede hjerter hindrede dem i at tage imod sandheden. De modstod Helligåndens overbevisning. De nægtede at lyde Guds bud.