Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes, and to his disciples,
Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples.
2 saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in the seat of Moses.
He said, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat.
3 All, therefore, whatever they bid you, do and observe; but do not according to their works; for they say, and do not.
Therefore whatever they command you to do, do these things and observe them. But do not imitate their deeds, for they say things but then do not do them.
4 They bind heavy burdens, and lay them on men's shoulders, and will not themselves move them with a finger.
Yes, they bind heavy burdens that are difficult to carry, and then they put them on people's shoulders. But they themselves will not move a finger to carry them.
5 And all their works they do to be observed by men. They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge their fringes,
They do all their deeds to be seen by people. For they make their phylacteries wide, and they enlarge the edges of their garments.
6 and love the first place at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
They love the chief places at feasts and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 and salutations in the markets, and to be called by men, Rabbi.
and special greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi' by people.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your teacher; and ye are all brethren.
But you must not be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all you are brothers.
9 And call no one your father on the earth; for one is your father, he who is in heaven.
And call no man on earth your father, for you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.
10 Nor be ye called leaders; for one is your leader, the Christ.
Neither must you be called 'teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Christ.
11 But the greatest among you will be your servant.
But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
12 And whoever shall exalt himself will be humbled; and whoever shall humble himself will be exalted.
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites I because ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for ye go not in yourselves, nor suffer those who are entering to go in.
But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven against people. For you do not enter it yourselves, and neither do you allow those about to enter to do so.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is made, ye make him two-fold mole a son of hell than yourselves. (Geenna g1067)
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you go over sea and land to make one convert, and when he has become one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you. (Geenna g1067)
16 Woe to you, blind guides, that say, Whoever sweareth by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever sweareth by the gold of the temple, is bound.
Woe to you, you blind guides, you who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound to his oath.'
17 Fools and blind I for which is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
You blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy?
18 And, Whoever sweareth by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, is bound.
And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is bound to his oath.'
19 Blind men! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar flint sanctifieth the gift?
You blind people! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?
20 He then who sweareth by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all that is upon it;
Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
21 and he that sweareth by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him who dwelleth in it;
The one who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who lives in it.
22 and he who sweareth by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him who sitteth thereon.
And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithes of the mint, and the dill, and the cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the Law, justice, and mercy, and faith; these ought ye to have done, and not to leave those undone.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, but you have left undone the weightier matters of the law—justice and mercy and faith. But these you ought to have done and not to have left the other undone.
24 Blind guides! who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel.
You blind guides, you who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and the platter, but within they are full of robbery and licentiousness.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.
26 Blind Pharisee! cleanse first the inside of the cup, that its outside side also may become clean.
You blind Pharisee! Clean first the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may become clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like whited sepulchres, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful, but within are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
In the same way, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and adorn the tombs of the righteous,
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous.
30 and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
You say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been participants with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'
31 So that ye bear witness against yourselves, that ye are the sons of those who killed the prophets.
Therefore you testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers!
You also fill up the measure of your fathers.
You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of hell? (Geenna g1067)
34 Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, and wise men, and scribes; some of them ye will kill and crucify, and some of them ye will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
Therefore, see, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some you will whip in your synagogues and drive them out from city to city.
35 that on you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom ye slew, between the temple and the altar.
The result is that upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.
36 Truly do I say to you, All these things will come upon this generation.
Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37 Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth those who are sent to her! How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often did I long to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
38 Lo! your house is left to you desolate.
See, your house is left to you desolate.
39 For I say to you, Ye will not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
For I say to you, You will not see me from now on until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'”
