Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples, saying, "The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens (hard to carry) and lay them on people's shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. They widen their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation 'Rabbi.' As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Mt 23:1-12)
Moses was God-sent to the people of Israel who were in Egypt. The Mosaic law, the Torah, was good and God-given. Hence they should be observed without any hesitation. Even if these laws were pronounced by wrong people from wrong places at the wrong time. The central theme of the Mosaic law was love of God and love of the neighbour.
Pharisees and the Scribes were preaching these laws and they were going on about Moses: Moses said this, Moses said that, do this, don’t do that etc. But they concentrated on the outward show. They were worried about large prayer-cases (known as Phylacteries which contained the prayer and this was worn on their hand and head). They also wore long prayer tassels (at the four corners of their outer garment). These were worn to show that they were pious and praying.
Jesus wanted his followers and disciples to wear humility, calling God as father and Messiah as Master. (These were the new phylacteries and tassels and places of honour etc). So the pious, religious, prayer garments were not the external and visible things but they were internal and more of attitude towards God and one another. Mosaic law should be observed with internal attitudes rather them external prayer-kit.
