The rest of chapter twenty-three is a rant by Jesus toward the Pharisees. They had given up on trying to trap him and the conspiracy to arrest Him was moving forward in the shadows.
I wonder if we read these woes more as pity and less as condemnation if our opinion of the Pharisees would change.
You Pharisees have worked so hard to grow your religion by condemning “this” while justifying “that,” that you missed the point entirely. Those who follow you are destined to a life of suffering because of the burden you placed upon them.
Jesus was not against accountability, but it’s not a competition. Winning in the Kingdom of God does not come with parades and accolades – it comes with great cost.
Journey Through Scripture 