Jesus did not speak against the Mosaic law, but it is clear that he saw its insufficiency, and allowed it to be seen that he did so.  He repeated unceasingly that more must be done than the ancient sages had commanded.[1] He forbade the least harsh word;[2] he prohibited divorce,[3] and all swearing;[4] he censured revenge;[5] he condemned usury;[6] he considered voluptuous desire as criminal as adultery;[7] he insisted upon a universal forgiveness of injuries.[8] The motive on which he rested these maxims of exalted charity was always the same....  “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:  for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good.  For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?  Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."[9]

[Footnote 1:  Matt. v. 20, and following.]

[Footnote 2:  Matt. v. 22.]

[Footnote 3:  Matt. v. 31, and following.  Compare Talmud of Babylon, Sanhedrim, 22 a.]

[Footnote 4:  Matt. v. 33, and following.]

[Footnote 5:  Matt. v. 38, and following.]

[Footnote 6:  Matt. v. 42.  The Law prohibited it also (Deut. xv. 7, 8), but less formally, and custom authorized it (Luke vii. 41, and following).]

[Footnote 7:  Matt. xxvii. 28.  Compare Talmud, Masseket Kalla (edit.  Fuerth, 1793), fol. 34 b.]

[Footnote 8:  Matt. v. 23, and following.]

[Footnote 9:  Matt. v. 45, and following.  Compare Lev. xi. 44, xix. 2.]

A pure worship, a religion without priests and external observances, resting entirely on the feelings of the heart, on the imitation of God,[1] on the direct relation of the conscience with the heavenly Father, was the result of these principles.  Jesus never shrank from this bold conclusion, which made him a thorough revolutionist in the very centre of Judaism.  Why should there be mediators between man and his Father?  As God only sees the heart, of what good are these purifications, these observances relating only to the body?[2] Even tradition, a thing so sacred to the Jews, is nothing compared to sincerity.[3] The hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who, in praying, turned their heads to see if they were observed, who gave their alms with ostentation, and put marks upon their garments, that they might be recognized as pious persons—­all these grimaces of false devotion disgusted him.  “They have their recompense,” said he; “but thou, when thou doest thine alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thy alms may be in secret, and thy Father, which seeth in secret, Himself shall reward thee openly."[4] “And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are:  for they love to pray standing in the synagogues, and in the corners of the streets, that they may be