Not all the Scribes in Jesus’ time were His opponents. Jesus made disciples to function as Scribes, preserving and explaining His teaching. He has been making Scribes for a long time. He makes them still.

Jesus probably felt that the Scribes and Pharisees would have been the first on His side. They were already so close, so very close. His harsh words for them may have been an expression of frustration, like He was saying to them, “Come ON! One more step! Can’t you take just one more step?! Something greater than the temple, greater than the Sabbath, is here now!”