Final answer:
Jesus called the Pharisees 'blind guides' and compared them to 'whited sepulchres,' symbolizing their hypocritical nature and negligence of weightier matters of the law despite their outward religious appearances.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the New Testament, specifically in the book of Matthew, Jesus uses several metaphors to describe the Pharisees, one of which is calling them "blind guides" who "strain at a gnat and swallow a camel." This metaphor is found in Matthew 23:24 and criticizes the Pharisees for focusing on minor issues (straining at a gnat) while ignoring more significant matters of the law (swallowing a camel). The imagery here denotes the Pharisees' attention to minor ritualistic details while neglecting the larger aspects of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
The Pharisees are also likened to "whited sepulchres" (Matthew 23:27), which look beautiful on the outside but are full of death on the inside, symbolizing their spiritual hypocrisy. Jesus rebukes them for appearing outwardly righteous to people while being full of hypocrisy and lawlessness internally.