Jesus was talking to them about Himself.  For in the same way God had sent many prophets before like John the Baptist who warned the people to repent but they didn't listen.  Then when God sent His one and only son they still didn't accept Him as the Messiah and the only One thru whom we could be forgiven. The chief priests and scribes instead got angry because they knew He was talking about them.  They eventually had Him nailed to the cross.