Do not exceed the limits concerning the truth (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5: 77)

Say: "O People of the Scripture! Exceed not the limits in your religion beyond the truth, Meaning: Do not exceed the limits concerning the truth and exaggeration in praising whom you were commanded to honor. You exaggerated in his case and elevated him from the rank of Prophet to the rank of a god. You did this with `Isa (Alayhi Salam), who was a Prophet, yet you claimed that he is god besides Allah. This error occurred because you followed your teachers, the advocates of misguidance who came before your time and who,

...and who misled many, and strayed (themselves) from the right path, deviated from the straight path, to the path of misguidance and deviation.


Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)