I knew this before, this truth, but it came back to my consciousness when thinking of last week's gospel.
This might seem shocking, but the Pharisees and scribes had a right to question Jesus on the behaviour of his apostles. Why?
The entire Jewish religion was based on two things: The Law and The Prophets. These two pillars of Truth formed the entire Jewish religion, the relationships with the community and the temple worship. The Covenant of Abraham was the foundation for the Law and the Law demanded the continuation and renewal of the Covenant.
Christ came along and challenged the Law and the Prophets. He demonstrated by His behaviour and He claimed by His words that He was greater than the Law and the Prophets.
That is the real reason for the questions of the Pharisees. That is why they questioned Him. He was doing away with what had laid the foundation for His Coming and they could see that. And, this is why Christ calls them hypocrites.
Because they knew that the Messiah would come and be a manifestation of the Law and the Prophets, when they saw this possibility in Christ, they responded with a loud NO. Christ is the embodiment of the New Law. He is the Prophet promised to come, and that is why the Pharisees rejected Him. Their hearts were not prepared for the challenge and the change. They really did not want the Messiah to come, yet....They did not want to give up their power for His Power.
Christ tried and they refused to listen. The Gentiles accepted the New Law, the King, Priest and Prophet Who is Christ.
That was also prophesied.