Matthew Chapter 23 - ACC NT Study

To me, Matthew Chapter 23 is a warning. While the 7 woes apply to the Pharisees and teachers of the law in the chapter, they also apply to me if I allow myself to be like them.
Versus 25 & 26 stand out to me today.
(Verses 25-26)
25"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

When we are doing well in our walk with Christ, we should give thanks for not falling into sin and remember to be humble. It is God who makes it possible to walk according to His will.

If we forget to (or choose not to) give thanks and be humble, we become full of ourselves. We start to believe we can live well morally and spiritually without God's help. Soon we become so pompous that we start changing our view of what is right and wrong in God's eyes. If we are not careful we fall into, and justify sin to fit our purpose.

I believe that is the case with Pharisees. They kept their prominent religious positions and became men with empty hearts, rather than God in the hearts of spiritual men. They did what looked good externally, but became greedy self-indulgent leaders internally.

In a few words:
Internal cleansing comes from our Heavenly Father.