What does the Bible say about false religious leaders?

In Luke 20:45-47, Jesus explicitly warns his disciples to beware of the scribes, condemning their actions and motivations as hypocritical. He describes them as individuals who seek honor and recognition among men while exploiting the vulnerable, like widows. This warning extends beyond these specific scribes to all religious leaders who distort the teachings of God. Throughout scripture, false teachers are characterized by their love for titles and public admiration, lacking genuine faith and righteousness. Jesus even calls them hypocrites, emphasizing that true righteousness is a matter of the heart and not merely external appearances.