The prophet of God was impressed by the holy Spirit that many of the Pharisees and Sadducees who asked baptism had no true convictions of their sins. They had selfish motives. They thought that if they should become friends of the prophet, they would stand a better chance to be personally favored of the coming Prince. In their blindness they believed that he was to set up a temporal kingdom, and bestow honors and riches upon his subjects. {2SP 50.2}

Guds profet blev indprentet af Helligånden så mange af den farisæerne og saddukæerne som bad om dåb ikke var sandt overbevist om deres synder. De havde selviske motiver. De tænkte at de var bedre om de var profetens venner, (51) ville havde en bedre chance for at blive foretrukket personligt af den kommende Fyrste. I deres blindhed troede de at han ville sætte et timeligt rige op, og give ære og rigdomme til hans undersåtter.