The tension that started with the Pharisees continued to build as Jesus taught. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus completely dismantled their religious system and then performed miracles that authenticated who He said He was. By this point, they were running out of excuses, yet if they acknowledged Jesus was who He claimed to be, it would shatter their worldview and force them to change their lives, so despite the evidence in front of them, their hearts remained hardened and they continued to challenge Him.