Matthew 23

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence” (v25).  The Pharisees were the most devout Jews in Jesus’ day; they worked hard to observe the Law and resisted the secularizing Greek culture.  Yet Jesus saw that their devotion had become self-righteousness, and they congratulated themselves on being moral while allowing all kinds of evil in their hearts. Jesus had harsh words for them because they were “guides” leading people astray (v16),

“They preach but do not practice” (v3).  Real power to influence and persuade comes from the sincere pursuit of Jesus and His ways when no one is watching.