Jesus never had to rebuke anyone for worshiping at a high place. Well, maybe in John 4.1ff, but that’s my point. You really have to reach. All the prophetic denunciations before the exile simply did not need to be said. Israel was through with idolatry.

Except, as I argue in my commentary on Mark, and many others have noted, Israel in Jesus’ day was thoroughly idolatrous. Even without actual shrines, they were worse off than ever before (did you ever read about so many demoniacs anywhere in the OT?). In fact, Israelites looked down on the Samaritans (“real” idolaters) and were confident in themselves. But they were worse.

There are still shrine worshipers today that we Protestants are sure we are better than. We don’t pray to the dead any more or worship relics. And yet, is it not possible that we have become super idolaters? Is there any lack of hagiography in our literature? Are we not ruled by the dead and worship paper and print landmarks of our own making?