Ways in which Pharisees Were Extortioners III. Pharisees use Traditions to Exploit the People for personal gain. In some cases, they were criticized for using religious rules to circumvent obligations, such as a rule that allowed them to keep money that should have gone to support their elderly parents - Mathew 15:4-9 (GNT). IV. Pharisees take Advantage of the Ignorance of the People to Prosper but they Don’t know Any Better! The people who turn the church (the house of prayer) to the den of thieves (selling all sorts of things and changing money) were working for the religious leaders and the Pharisees were part of thar group - Mathew 21:12-13 Blessed as you listen to this thought provoking and message from our father!