Jesus is interested in speaking God's truth, not in winning influential allies. Although many people respected blunt, radical teachers, polite Mediterranean society generally emphasized public respect toward persons of appropriate rank. When one is planning to get crucified anyway, however, one does not need to accommodate the opinions of those who lead God's people astray.

>Scholars may debate how much political power the Pharisees held in this period (the Sadducees certainly held more official power), but they were highly influential with the people (Jos. Ant. 18.17; E. Sanders 1992:402-4). Jesus' disciples are thus concerned that he has publicly shamed his influential interlocutors instead of reaching out to them (v. 12). Jesus responds by alluding back to the prophetic image of building or tearing down, planting or uprooting people according to God's message (v. 13; compare 3:10; Jer 42:10; 45:4); God has concealed his revelation from "the wise and learned" (11:25-27; 13:11-17; 16:16-17; compare 14:33).

Jesus then graphically compares his self-assured opponents to people who offer to lead the blind but cannot see themselves (15:14; compare 7:3-5; 13:13; 23:16; Rom 2:19). Even were the interpretation of such an image difficult, the disciples should have understood him perfectly well: earlier prophets had also complained that the leaders of God's people were blind (for example, Is 3:12, 14; 6:10; 9:16).