“Jesus will never be satisfied with an outward show; superficial airs of

pretended godliness. This was exactly what Jesus condemned in the

Pharisees! We often misunderstand Jesus’ harsh rebukes for religious

leaders and the Pharisees throughout the gospels thinking that Jesus calls

them out for being legalists or religious in some negative sense. What

Jesus primarily and specifically warns them and the crowds about was their

contentment with fostering a reputation for outward devotion to God while

their hearts were actually far from him…”