Matthew presents Jesus' mission with a goal to fulfill Israel’s history or to fulfill the role of humanity. The ultimate goal is to honor the Lord. Christ honors his father perfectly, but in order for Christ to fulfill his mission to save his people from their sins he has to go to the cross. The leaders of Israel deny Christ’s messianic claims because Christ does not fit their mold. Christ interacts with the leaders giving them complete and severe warnings about their spiritual destiny. What is their problem? Is this just an Israelite problem? What do these woes teach us about our potential spiritual pitfalls?