Jesus commenced the work of reformation by bringing himself into close sympathy with humanity. He was a Jew, and he designed to leave a perfect pattern of one who was a Jew inwardly. While he rebuked the Pharisees for their pretentious piety, endeavoring to free the people from the senseless exactions that bound them, he showed the greatest veneration for the law of God, and taught obedience of its precepts. {2SP 109.1}

Jesus begyndte at forbedre denne tilstand i samfundet, idet han bragte sig selv i en inderlig forening med menneskene. Han var en jøde, og hans bestemmelse var at leve som et fuldkomment mønster for dem, som ville være jøder indvortes. Medens han irettesatte farisæerne for deres påtagne fromhed og forsøgte at befri folket fra de urimelige byrder, som var langt på dem, viste han den største agtelse for Guds lov og lærte menneskene at adlyde dens bud.