Matthew 23:1-24
Jesus' Profile in Contrast
Since coming to Jerusalem, Jesus has challenged the whole range of leaders in the Temple by actions and teaching: Chief priests (authority, God's work in John); Pharisees (taxes to Caesar); Sadducees (resurrection); serious questions (great command, Messiah/David).
Matthew begins the last of five collection of Jesus' teaching: Mt 5-7, 10, 13, 18, now 23-25. He focuses many things said before and anticipates the future beyond Jesus' ministry.
Jesus had a sharp profile among the many teachers, viewpoints, and parties among Jews of his day: Pharisees, Sadducees/chief priests, Essenes, Zealots, individual prophets like John. Each pointed a direction for a people in waiting, after exile, subjugation, longing for a future. Many envisioned a rigorous, purified community and violent opposition to Rome (Pharisees, Essenes, Zealots in different ways). Temple leaders/Sadducees compromised with Rome.