As a nation, the people of Israel, while desiring the advent of the Messiah, were so far separated from God in heart and life that they could have no true conception of the character or mission of the promised Redeemer. Instead of desiring redemption from sin, and the glory and peace of holiness, their hearts were fixed upon deliverance from their national foes, and restoration to worldly power. They looked for Messiah to come as a conqueror, to break every yoke, and exalt Israel to dominion over all nations. Thus Satan had succeeded in preparing the hearts of the people to 710 reject the Saviour when He should appear. Their own pride of heart, and their false conceptions of His character and mission, would prevent them from honestly weighing the evidences of His Messiahship.

Det israelitiske folk længtes efter, at Messias skulle komme, men nationen som helhed var i hjerte og liv så fremmed over for Gud, at de slet ikke havde nogen virkelig forståelse af den lovede forløsers karakter eller mission. Det burde have været deres store ønske at blive frelst fra synden og komme i besiddelse af hellighedens fred og herlighed, men i stedet satte de deres hu til at blive befriet for landets fjender og til at få deres verdslige storhed tilbage. De ventede, at Messias skulle komme som en erobrer, der ville sønderbryde alle åg og give Israel herredømmet over alle andre nationer. På denne måde lykkedes det Satan at påvirke folkets hjerte således, at de forkastede Frelseren, da han kom. De var ikke i stand til at foretage en korrekt bedømmelse af vidnesbyrdene om, at han var Messias, fordi deres hjerte var stolt og deres opfattelse af hans karakter og mission forkert.