Such was the spirit of the law which the rabbis had misinterpreted as a cold and rigid code of exactions. They regarded themselves as better than other men, and as entitled to the special favor of God by virtue of their birth as Israelites; but Jesus pointed to the spirit of forgiving love as that which would 74 give evidence that they were actuated by any higher motives than even the publicans and sinners, whom they despised.

Jøderne holdt på, at Gud elskede dem. der tjente ham efter deres mening sådanne, som opfyldte rabbinernes krav og at hele verden for øvrigt var genstand for hans vrede og forbandelse. Men det forholder sig ikke således, sagde Jesus; hele verden, de onde med de gode, befinder sig i hans kærligheds solskin. Denne sandhed burde de have lært af naturen selv, for Gud »lader sin sol stå op både over onde og gode og lader det regne både over retfærdige og uretfærdige.«