Jesus Criticizes the Religious Leaders

Matthew 23

Then Jesus said to the crowd and to his disciples,"The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses. So practice and obey whatever they tell you (about that law) but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never life a finger to ease the burden."

"Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer bodes with scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels. And, they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces and to be called 'Rabbi'."

So... "Don't let anyone call you 'Rabbi', for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters.  Why? Because, as Jesus continued, "What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the more important aspects of the law, justice, mercy, and faith. You should tithe, yes but do not neglect the more important things..."