There is a sharp contrast between the concern and sincerity of Paul in the care of his flock, and the treatment the Pharisees and lawyers meted out to their people. Paul went all out to make it easy for them to enter the kingdom of God, while the latter made it appear exceedingly hard. "They are forever reminding people what the law is and forever forgetting what the law is for." In their distortion of God's law, they are betraying their very profession and keeping people out of the kingdom instead of leading them in.

The emphasis in the enunciation of the Pharisees is on their hypocrisy, the difference that existed between what they were in appearance, and the reality of their lives, between what was assiduously made to look good, and the ugliness of what they chose to conceal. This was particularly revolting to Him who is the Truth. Yet, Jesus is not suggesting that we openly display our shortcomings, but that we do not parade pseudo-goodness, a goodness to which we have no claim. Rather He would have us humbly recognize our limitations, "the fruit of my own garden" as St Teresa would say.