The Jewish nation had corrupted their religion by useless ceremonies and customs. This laid a heavy tax upon the people, especially the poorer classes. They were also under bondage to the Romans, and required to pay tribute to them. The Jews were unreconciled to their bondage, and looked forward to the triumph of their nation through the Messiah, the powerful deliverer foretold in prophecy. Their views were narrow. They thought the Coming One would, at his appearing, assume kingly honors, and, by force or arms, subdue their oppressors, and take the throne of David. Had they, with humble minds and spiritual discernment, studied the prophecies, they would not have been found in so great error as to overlook the prophecies which pointed to his first advent in humility, and misapply those which spoke of his second coming with power and great glory. The Jewish people had been striving for power. They were ambitious for worldly honors. They were proud and corrupt, and could not discern sacred things. They could not distinguish between those prophecies which pointed to the first advent of Christ, and those that described his second, glorious appearing. The power and glory described by the prophets as attending his second advent, they looked for at his first advent. Their national glory was to them their greatest anxiety. Their ambitious desire was the establishment of a temporal kingdom, which they supposed would reduce the Romans to subjection, and exalt themselves with authority and power to reign over them. They had made the proud boast to those to whom they were in subjection, that they were not to oppress them long; for their reign would soon commence, which would be more exalted and glorious than even that of Solomon.

Det jødiske folk havde fordærvet deres religion med unødige ceremoni og skikke. Dette lagde en tung byrde på folk, især de fattigere klasser. De var også under romernes trældoms åg, og de forlangte at betale tribut (skat) til dem. Jøderne var uforsonet med deres trældoms åg, og så fremad til deres nations sejr igennem Messias, den kraftfulde udfrier, der var forudsagt i profetien. De havde et snævert syn på dette. De tænkte at den som kommer ville, ved sin tilsynekomst, påtage sig kongelig ære, og, ved magt eller vælde, undertrykke deres undertrykkere, og tage Davids trone. Havde de, med ydmyge sind og åndelig erkendelse, studeret profetierne, ville de ikke have være faldet i så stor vildfarelse, som at overse profetierne der pegede på hans første komme i ydmyghed, og misfortolke dem, som taler om hans andet komme med kraft og megen herlighed. Det jødiske folk havde stræbt efter magt. De var ærgerrige efter verdslig ære. De var stolte og fordærvede, og kunne ikke se de hellige ting. De ville ikke skelne mellem de profetier som pegede på Kristi første komme, og dem som beskrev hans andet herlige tilsynekomst. Den kraft og herlighed som profeterne beskrev, ville følge med hans andet komme, så de efter ved hans første komme. Deres nationale ære var den største bekymring for dem. Deres ærgerrige ønske var at etablere et timeligt rige, som de mente ville reducere romernes undertrykkelse, og ophøje dem med autoritet og kraft til at regere over dem. De havde pralet over for dem som de var undertrykket af, at de ikke skulle undertrykke dem så længe, for deres regering ville snart begynde, som ville være mere ophøjet og herlighed, end endog Salomons regering.