But how that law is disregarded! This is a truth-hating, Bible-neglecting, froward generation. Many do not hesitate to sneer at the Word of God; those who believe that Word just as it reads are held up to ridicule. Jesus sees the world filled with ingratitude, formalism, insincerity, pride, and apostasy. He sees his love despised, his law rejected, his ambassadors treated with indifference. Jesus has spoken by mercies, but these mercies have been unacknowledged; he has spoken by warnings, but these warnings have been unheeded. The temple courts of the human soul have been turned into places of unholy traffic. Selfishness, envy, pride, malice--all are cherished.

Men hvor er den lov blevet vanrøgtet! Dette er en sandheds-hadende, bibelforsømmende og egensindig slægt. Mange tøver ikke med at forhåne Guds ord; dem som tror det Ord præcis som det læses fremholdes som latterlige. Jesus ser at verden er fyldt med smiger, formalisme, oprigtighed, stolthed og frafald. Han ser sin kærlighed foragtet, hans lov forkastet, hans ambassadørere behandlet med ligegyldighed. Jesus har talt om barmhjertighed, men denne barmhjertighed har ikke være anerkendt; han har talt om advarsler, men disse advarsler har været upåagtet. Menneskesjælens tempelsale er blevet vendt til steder med uhellig færdsel. Selviskhed, fjendskab, stolthed, ondskab – alt dette gemmes der på.