WHAT WAS THE MOTIVE?, Chapter 14 of Who Crucified Christ by Ogden Kraut

Jesus often called the scribes and Pharisees “hypocrites,” which means they were not doing the things they claimed they did. He told His disciples, “All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.” (Matt. 23:3) To believe and profess is not faith, but acting upon such belief is. The Apostle James declared that “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?” “A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.” “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 2:14; 1:8; 1:22)

These Jews claimed they were the children of “Abraham,” they sat in “Moses’ seat,” they were the leaders of the “chosen” people, they could do no wrong, and they claimed the right faith. However, they failed to exemplify the good works to accompany all their claims.

Though they claimed to be righteous, Jesus said of them:

Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him. (Matt. 21:31-32)