A Commentary on the New Testament From the Talmud and Hebraica, by John Lightfoot, offers the following insight: “The common opinion of the Jews about the qualification of an Israelite... still sticks in the mind of this Pharisee ” who cannot“ easily get off from his first prejudice...: ‘ Whereas the Israelites... have a right to be admitted into the kingdom of the Messiah, do you therefore mean by this expression of yours, that it is necessary for any to enter a second time into his mother’s womb, that he may be an Israelite anew? ’ ” ​ — Compare Matthew 3: 9.
जबकि फरीसी मानते थे कि यहूदी धर्म में धर्मपरिवर्तित व्यक्‍तियों के लिए पुनर्जन्म आवश्‍यक था, और रब्बियों के एक मुहावरे में धर्मान्तरित व्यक्‍ति की समानता “नवजात शिशु ” से की गयी थी, फिर भी नीकुदेमुस इतनी उलझन में क्यों पड़ गया?