The priests and Pharisees thought they were doing great things as teachers by putting their own interpretation upon the word of God, but Christ said of them, "Ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God." Mark 12:24. He charged them with the guilt of "teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Mark 7:7. Though they were the teachers of the oracles of God, though they were supposed to understand His word, they were not doers of the word. Satan had blinded their eyes that they should not see its true import.

Præsterne og farisæerne mente, at de udførte en stor gerning som lærere ved at fremkomme med deres egen fortolkning af Guds ord, men Kristus sagde om dem: "I farer vild, fordi I hverken kender skrifterne eller Guds kraft." Han anklagede dem og skyldte dem for at "de fører lærdomme, som kun er menneskebud". Skønt de underviste om Guds lov skønt de burde forstå hans ord, var de dog ikke ordets gørere. Satan havde blindet deres øjne, for at de ikke skulle se dets sande betydning.