The ministry of Christ was in marked contrast with that of the Jewish elders. They held themselves aloof from sympathy with men; considering that they were the favored ones of God, they assumed an undue appearance of righteousness and dignity. The Jews had so far fallen from the ancient teachings of Jehovah that they held that they would be righteous in the sight of God, and receive the fulfillment of his promises, if they strictly kept the letter of the law given them by Moses. {2SP 108.1}

Kristi virksomhed står i skarp modsætning til de jødiske læreres. De hævede sig over al medfølelse med mennesker og betragtede sig selv som Guds udvalgte; og de påtog sig et falsk skin af retfærdighed og høj værdighed. Jøderne var afveget så langt fra Jehovas lære ved profeterne, at de mente, at de ville blive retfærdige for Gud, og at han ville opfylde sine løfter på dem, dersom de nøje holdt sig efter lovens bogstav, som Moses havde givet dem.