While the words of Jesus today are directed against the Pharisees and Teachers of the Law, we need to pay special attention to them. They follow scrupulously the tiniest regulations of their religion but they ignore just behaviour and loving God (especially loving him in other people). That is like always using holy water when we go into the church or making sure that we are fasting for a full 60 minutes before Communion but then go out and pass judgement on other people or ignore their real needs. The Pharisees loved all kinds of respect from the public. We can spend a lot of time (and money) making sure we look well but neglect a neighbour who is hungry or wearing rags. The Scribes, too, are criticised for laying down the law in the strictest fashion but doing nothing to help people keep them. We, too, can be very judgemental in our attitude to people but doing nothing to try to understand or help them in their weaknesses. If we will only reflect a little we will see a lot of the Pharisee in ourselves.