—as God has informed us about them— they follow(1) what is ambiguous and turn away from what is unequivocal.

The Gospel likewise relates that, when the Jews said to him, “We are the children of God,” he answered: “If God were your Father you would obey me, for I have come forth from Him as a messenger, not on my own initiative but because He sent me. Yet you do not accept my command and you are unable to listen to my words. In truth, you are the children of Satan(2) and you wish to fulfill(3) his desires.”(4)

It is also written in the Gospel that the Jews surrounded him and said, “How long will you keep your affair concealed? If you are the Messiah we are waiting for, tell us plainly.”(5) They did not say, “If you are God or the Son of God,” for he never claimed(6) any such thing, nor did any of his enemies or followers ever understand that from him.

The Gospel further records that the Jews sought to seize him and therefore sent officers(7). When the officers returned to their leaders, they were asked, “Why did you not bring him?” They replied, “Never have we heard a human being speak more justly than this man.” The Jews retorted, “So you too have been deceived! Do you see any of the rulers or of the scholars who have believed in him?” One of their elders then said to them, “Does your Scripture judge a man before it hears from him?” They answered, “Search the Scriptures and you will see that no prophet comes from Galilee.”(8) So