So practice and observe whatever they tell you indicates that Jesus respects the authority of the scribes and the Pharisees, even though he opposes their hypocrisy. Practice and observe (Good News Translation “obey and follow”) are used synonymously and so may be translated as one verb such as “obey.”

But not what they do is elliptical and may have to be expanded to “but don’t do what they do” or “but don’t follow their actions.”

Observe whatever they tell you refers to the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, which is defined more precisely as for they preach, but do not practice. In most languages preach and practice will require the explicit mention of an object; for example, “for they teach you to do certain things, but they do not do these things themselves” or “for they tell you what Moses’ Law requires a person to do, but they themselves do not obey the Law.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .