Jesus denounced formalism in religion in scathing words, and utterly repudiated the ambitious teachers, priests, and rabbis who care more for praise of men than obedience to God. His was a call to recognize one God only.  After He had enumerated the faults of religion of the letter from which the Spirit had been banished, He termed it a mockery that was doomed to destruction.  There was, however, more grief than condemnation in His words, and He concluded with the heartfelt lament over the Holy City, whose sons and daughters had turned from the loving help that he would have given them so gladly and freely.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not! Behold, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me from now on, until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!'"

The day was now far advanced, and it was clear that any possiblity of a reconciliation between Jesus and the Jewish leaders was gone.  As He was leaving the Temple for the last time, He passed through the Court of the Women.  In this court were thirteen chests, called "shoperoth," each sharped like a trumpet, into which the people were casting their contributions.......Luke 21:1-4

Jesus artfully combined the Ten Commandments into two.  The Decalogue deals with our right attitude toward God and our fellow human beings.  The spiritual teaching of all the religious seers of the ages is summed up in these two commandments given by the Great Teacher.  In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus had said,  "You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (MT. 5:48).  We attain perfection by obedience to these two commandments.

Jesus now had the opportunity to question the Jewish leaders, and His query trapped them as they had hoped theirs would trap Him.  He asked:

"What do you think of the Christ"  Whose son is he""  They said to him, 'The son of David.'  He said to them, 'How is it then that David, is inspired by the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, "The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I put thy enemies under thy feet""  If David thus calls him Lord, how is he his son"' " (MT.22:42-45)

Jesus was quoting from Psalms 110, which the Pharisees regarded as distincly Messianic; yet, they could think of no reply.  There could be but one answer:  the Son (Messiah) was divine, not human.  Jesus was David's son by natural birth, since Mary was of the house of David.  The Pharisees were embarrassed, since they could not explain a matter that concerned their own religion, and they withdrew.