In many cultures, it is considered rude to say anything which other people might not agree with. It is important for communities to exercise social tolerance in order to bond together. However, when lies, error or falsehood of any kind is tolerated, social bonds are always weakened, and the community will fragment. Jesus spoke directly about this problem to the crowds and His disciples. It was an essential part of His teaching to His trainee apostles who would, in the future, deal with false prophets who would try to pull the church away from the truth of the gospel (2 Peter 2:1).

The tone of this whole chapter is certainly not 'politically correct'. It is a direct exposure of the hypocritical teachings and actions of the religious leaders - particularly the Pharisees who claimed to be the experts in interpreting God's Word. Earlier in His ministry, Jesus spoke against this religious hypocrisy in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-18). In this chapter, shortly before His crucifixion, He names the Pharisees, describing them as hypocrites because they did not do what they preached.

This chapter uncovers their hypocrisy in great detail, warning the crowds to respect what they said but not to behave like them. Luke summarised Jesus’ expose under six “Woe to you” headings to warn the Pharisees of their future judgement (Luke 11:37-54). All religious hypocrisy will tie heavy burdens to people's backs without providing any help to ease the load. Those people live in fear of God's wrath if they fail to keep the laws but know they can never completely succeed. It is an abusive controlling environment which God never authorised. The church can only operate properly when it receives and gives love, and continues to preach strongly against what is false (even if religious people think it is true).

It is easy to see the faults in others. That is why we need God's Word as a mirror so that we may see what we are like, and then be obedient to God's "perfect law that gives freedom" (James 1:22-25). Wherever we have spiritual responsibility (over our own lives, those in our family, community and church) we must not only teach and train what is right, but also rebuke and correct what is wrong (2 Timothy 3:16). Failure to identify error will allow it to grow so that people assume that it is true. Holding truth and error together is like having a good heart but bad lungs ... eventually the body dies. Of course, it is a great challenge because nobody enjoys a rebuke. But if children need it, so does the Church.