Spiritual practices or disciplines are means to an end, but not the end; they are the  pathway to the goal. Prayer, fasting, worship, tithing, offerings, sacrifices, etc. are useless if we are not  committed to the pursuit of righteousness, mercy, love, and justice. 

(See examples in  Isaiah 58:1-12; Malachi 2:13-16; Matthew 23:23; Mark 7:1-13) 

We can easily turn the spiritual practices/disciplines into legalistic empty religion if  we:  

• Forget that they are a means to an end, not the end. 

• Observe them without required humble and repentant hearts. 

• Observe them to achieve our own ends rather than God’s purpose.  

The Pharisees were experts in observing religious practices and disciplines, but they  were not on God’s agenda.  The Pharisees’ testing question and Jesus’ answer.