Jesus has been addressing the religious leaders, but the crowds have apparently been observing and listening too. When we see someone else being criticised it is easy to feel self-satisfied, but Jesus has a lesson for the people as well.
The people still had to obey the Pharisees. There may be many things about our political leaders that are reprehensible, but we still have to give them proper respect.
"They do not practice what they preach". This is one of the many sayings that are common parlance and originate from the Bible. When we see someone else being hypocritical it is easy to think, "well there is no point me following the law or doing right either". This is the wrong reaction. The Law the Pharisees were being hypocritical about was God's law, so they still had to follow the Law.
Jesus then proceeded to point out more of the hypocrisy of the leaders. They put heavy burdens on the people, but then proceeded to ignore them themselves. The Pharisees wanted to be seen to be religious.
In contrast, Jesus instructs us to remember that there is only one true teacher, one Father, one source of all good things. We are to have a servant attitude, humbling ourselves before God.
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