new Pharisees. You cleanse the outside of a cup and the dish, and then you eat and drink food that goes into a body that inside is full of greed and wickedness. You fools! Did not he who made the outside make the inside also? But give as arms those things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you. Are you saying giving arms is more important than being ritually clean? I'm saying that your obsession with what is clean and unclean goes farther than God intended and does no good for anybody but yourself. We tithe everything so the poor can benefit, down to the smallest plants grown in our gardens, and to that I say woe to you Pharisees. You tithe mint and dill and cumin, measuring carefully the last speck while neglecting what is actually important of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. You blind guides, straining out a gnat while swallowing a camel. Look at these people, what have you done to help them? We have taught them how to observe God's

perfect law while you actively defy and break and encourage others to deviate from it. All of you, this man is dangerous. He's leading you astray. His words bring hope and healing. His words are blasphemous. I say war to you Pharisees, for you love the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplace. Take it back right now. En can't your insulting words. Oh, I am just getting started.

Oh, I Am Just Getting Started! (The Chosen Scene)

The Chosen

The speaker criticizes the Pharisees for prioritizing ritualistic cleanliness and tithing over justice, mercy, and faithfulness, accusing them of neglecting the needs of the people.

He asserts their obsession with cleanliness goes beyond God's intention and benefits only themselves, while they ignore the more important aspects of the law.

The speaker defends his actions by emphasizing hope and healing, while the Pharisees accuse him of blasphemy and misleading the people.

Jesus criticizes the Pharisees' focus on outward cleanliness over inner goodness.

The Pharisees cleanse the outside of cups but are full of greed inside.

Giving alms is more important than ritual cleanliness.

The Pharisees tithe meticulously but neglect justice, mercy, and faithfulness.

The Pharisees accuse Jesus of leading people astray and blasphemy.

The Pharisees love the best seats and greetings in the marketplace.

The scene opens with a sharp rebuke directed at the Pharisees, accusing them of focusing on outward appearances while their insides are "full of greed and wickedness." **This highlights a central theme of hypocrisy versus genuine piety.**

The speaker challenges the Pharisees' emphasis on ritual cleanliness, arguing that their obsession goes beyond God's intention and only benefits themselves. **This is contrasted with the importance of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.**

⚖️ Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness vs. Ritual

The criticism extends to their meticulous tithing of even the smallest plants while neglecting the weightier matters of the law. **The speaker uses the metaphor of "straining out a gnat while swallowing a camel" to illustrate their misplaced priorities.**

The Pharisees are accused of not helping the people and leading them astray. **Their teachings are contrasted with the speaker's words, which are described as bringing "hope and healing" but also deemed "blasphemous" by the Pharisees.**

The confrontation intensifies as the speaker denounces the Pharisees for their love of prestige and power. **The line "Oh, I am just getting started" signifies a bold and unwavering stance against their opposition.**