Christ, at the very beginning of his ministry, openly rebuked the superficial morality and ostentatious piety of the Jews. He did not conform his life and his work to their customs and regulations. He was not influenced by their unreasonable prejudices against the Gentiles. He, on the contrary, sternly rebuked their conceit and selfish seclusion. The Pharisees rejected Christ. They ignored his miracles and the truthful simplicity of his character. They refused to recognize his pure and elevated spirituality and all evidences of his divinity. They scornfully demanded of him a sign that they might know that he was indeed the Son of God. {2SP 149.1}

Kristus irettesatte offentlig jødernes overfladiske moral og pralende fromhed ved sit embedes begyndelse. Han lempede ikke sit liv og sin gerning efter deres skikke og regler. Han lod ikke bøje af for deres urimelige fordomme mod hedningerne. Han straffede tværtimod strengt deres indbildskhed og egenkærlige afsondring. Farisæerne forkastede Kristus; de ville ikke anerkende hans mirakler og hans ligefremme, oprigtige karakter. De forkastede alle beviser på hans guddom og nægtede at erkende hans rene og ophøjede åndelighed. De forlangte spottende, at han skulle vise den et tegn, for at de kunne vide, at han i sandhed var Guds Søn.