Mat 23:1-12 serves as a prologue to arguably the most scathing, thorough, and direct message of condemnation in all of the gospels. The preaching of the Kingdom of God would not be complete without these indicting words, however. For those with ears to hear, this magnifying glass of sovereign scrutiny placed over the common heart defects of so many through the ages, is a great mercy. Jesus expounds the substance of Kingdom values in His ministry as well as exposing its enticing and deceptive counterfeits... Later in this section (23:23) the intent and value of the law, in which His hearers boasted expertise, is summarized by three straightforward attributes: Justice, mercy, and faithfulness. The depravity of the human heart took advantage of the Pharisee's position and substituted legalism, tyranny, and hypocritical pride for these virtues. In the final analysis, these systemic sins were the reasons the religious leaders hated Christ. In their contentious antipathy, they sought to entrap, belittle, arrest, and destroy Him because “they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.” (Jn 12:43)