Well, short answer...I wouldn't put it past him. He made it obvious on various occasions his disapproval and borderline disdain for the sanctimonious piety of the Scribes and Pharisees. Peeling back the many layers of truth however we find underneath that where they were about the Law, He was about Love and love demanded that he tend to those who are in need.
I agree. Jesus seemed to be more disturbed about the hardening of there hearts than there hypocrisy. He realized the Law they new so well, and even Jesus advised to listen to there teachings, missed the whole point of the true meaning of being holy like our Heavenly Father. Full of grace and truth, and remember Jesus said, if you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you have fulfilled the Law in its entirety.
Not quite, He was also making a point. Quit quibbling about the colour of the leaves at the expense of ignoring the whole forest. I agree with your point about the hardening of hearts, but the hypocrisy went hand in glove with that. Matt 23:13-33.
Benedict Arnold 