You are right, I agree with your take, it is Biblical. My only point was that the critique of Pharisaism by Jesus hits a lot closer to home than many realize. People “love to hate “ Pharisees, but miss the application. Pharisaism developed into the dead, tradition crusted, rabbinic commentary over scripture cult that Jesus denounced, but it originally was a conservative reaction against hellenism. At least with the Pharisees Jesus could appeal to the Word of God, to show them their error.
Yeah, but the Pharisees were pretty bad about putting their traditions above the Word of God and then getting offended when they were called on it.
It is my understanding that if you asked a Jew of that day, “Who are the most righteous people around?”, they would say without a doubt the Pharisees. They had 613 laws and kept them. The problem was, it was all external. The commandments became a “checklist” instead of what the Law’s intent was - to point out the sin in our heart and our inability to please God, therefore left to cry out for His mercy and look to His Anointed One who was promised to “crush the head of the Serpent.”
This statement by Jesus in Mt 5 had to blow them away!
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
Then Jesus goes on to show the spiritual application of the Commandments as it relates to the heart of man, leaving many to question, who then can be saved? Which is exactly where the Law is suppose to take you.