Religious
superstitions!
(Arthur Pink, "Christ Despised"
1937)
"He was despised and rejected by men." Isaiah 53:3
One reason why Christ was despised and rejected, was because He denounced religious traditions. Despite the Fall, man is essentially a religious creature. The peoples of the world pay homage to gods of their own devising; and there are few things on which they are more sensitive—than their religious superstitions! He who condemns or even criticizes the devotees of any religious belief or practice—will be greatly disliked.
Christ drew upon Himself the hatred of Israel's leaders, by His denunciation of their religious inventions. "Jesus replied—And why do you break the command of God—for the sake of your tradition?" Matthew 15:3
"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8