The prophet was encouraging the people to follow the teachings of the Lord. They were to purify themselves, stop doing evil and learn to do good. The Lord was willing to forgive the sins of the people if they followed the way of the Lord. A helpful attitude was important. The obedient would be rewarded, but those who refused would suffer. Following God's will is not a path to material success but to peace within our hearts.

Jesus acknowledged the authority of the scribes and Pharisees, but he criticised them for many things. On a positive note, Jesus did tell the people to follow the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees because they were authentic. However, the people were advised not to follow the actions of the scribes and Pharisees because they did not practise what they taught. They placed burdens on others that they themselves were unwilling to accept. They desired to be recognised as being holy and greeted with respect. On the contrary, to be a follower of Jesus, a person must be humble and be willing to be the servant of others.