Matthew 23:24

Unless we allow the Holy Spirit to change us from the inside out we will remain out of touch with the reality of God and His Kingdom. 

Our ways are not HIs and His ways are not ours. Until we recognize the still small voice of our Teacher inside of our new heart we will not change. We will still be under the bondage of the Old Covenant which rules outwardly and not the New Covenant of Jesus Christ which is within.

Jesus was exaggerating a point to illustrate how much the Pharisees had neglected justice, mercy, and faith. 

Matthew 23:24

²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

⁴⁴ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.” 

Luke 11:44

²³ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 

Matthew 23:23