He continuously condemns in white-hot language their legalism, self-righteousness, bigotry, and love of wealth and power (“You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness…. You neglect justice and the love of God…You load people down with burdens they can hardly carry, and you yourselves will not lift one finger to help them…. [You] devour widows’ houses and for a show make long prayers”—Luke 11:39-46; 20:47).
