Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to the disciples of Him
Then Jesus, speaking to the crowds and to his disciples, said,
2 saying; On Moses’ seat sat down the scribes and the Pharisees;
‘The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees now occupy the chair of Moses.
3 All things therefore as much as (if *N(k)O*) they shall tell you (to keep *K*) (do perform *N(k)O*) and do observe. After however the works of them not do perform; They speak for and not act.
Therefore practice and lay to heart everything that they preach but do not practice.
4 They tie up (now *N(k)O*) burdens heavy and hard to bear and lay [them] on the shoulders of men; themselves however with the finger of them not are they willing to move them.
While they make up heavy loads and pile them on other people’s shoulder’s they decline, themselves, to lift a finger to move them.
5 All now the deeds of them they do in order to be seen by men; They broaden (for *N(k)O*) the phylacteries of them and enlarge tassels (the *k*) (of garments of them. *K*)
All their actions are done to attract attention. They widen their phylacteries, and increase the size of their tassels,
6 They love (now *N(k)O*) the chief place at the banquets and the first seats in the synagogues
and like to have the place of honour at dinner, and the best seats in the synagogues,
7 and the greetings in the marketplaces and to be called by men Rabbi (Rabbi. *K*)
and to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called “Rabbi” by everybody.
8 you yourselves however not may be called Rabbi; One for is of you the (Teacher *N(k)O*) (Christ *K*) all now you yourselves brothers are.
But do not allow yourselves to be called “Rabbi,” for you have only one teacher, and you yourselves are all brothers and sisters.
9 And father no [one] may call of you on the earth; One for is of you the Father who [is] (in heaven. *N(k)O*)
And do not call anyone on the earth your “Father,” for your have only one Father, the heavenly Father.
10 Neither may be called instructors, (since *N(k)O*) (the *k*) instructor of you is One the Christ.
Nor must you allow yourselves to be called “leaders,” for you have only one leader, the Christ.
11 And the greatest among you will be your servant.
The person who wants to be the greatest among you must be your servant.
12 He who then will exalt himself will be humbled, and whoever will humble himself will be exalted.
Whoever exalts themselves will be humbled, and whoever humbles themselves will be exalted.
13 Woe (however *no*) to you, scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of the heavens before men; You yourselves for neither enter nor even those entering do you allow to go in.
But alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You turn the key of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you do not go in yourselves, and do not allow those who try to go in to do so.
14 (woe to you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for you devour houses widows and as a pretext long praying; through this you will receive more excessive judgment. *K*)
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you traverse the sea and the dry [land] to make one convert, and when he may become [so], you make him a son of hell twofold more than yourselves. (Geenna g1067)
Alas for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You scour land and sea to make a single convert, and, when they are gained, you make them twice as deserving of Gehenna as you are yourselves. (Geenna g1067)
16 Woe to you, guides blind you who [are] saying; Who[ever] maybe may swear by the temple, no [thing] it is; who[ever] however maybe may swear by the gold of the temple is bound.
Alas for you, you blind guides! You say “if any swear by the Temple, their oath counts for nothing; but, if anyone swears by the gold of the Temple, their oath is binding them”!
17 Foolish and blind! Which for greater is, the gold or the temple which (is sanctifying *N(k)O*) the gold?
Fools that you are and blind! Which is the more important? The gold? Or the Temple which has given sacredness to the gold?
18 And [you say] Who[ever] (maybe *N(k)O*) shall swear by the altar, no [thing] it is; who[ever] however maybe shall swear by the gift that [is] upon it, is bound.
You say, too, “If anyone swears by the altar, their oath counts for nothing, but, if anyone swears by the offering placed on it, their oath is binding on them”!
19 (foolish and *K*) You blind men! Which for [is] greater, the gift or the altar which is sanctifying the gift?
Blind indeed! Which is the more important? The offering? Or the altar which gives sacredness to the offering?
20 The [one] therefore having sworn by the altar swears by it and by all things that [are] upon it,
Therefore a person, swearing by the altar, swears by it and by all that is on it,
21 And the [one] having sworn by the temple swears by it and by the [One] (dwelling *NK(o)*) in it,
and a person, swearing by the Temple, swears by it and by him who dwells in it,
22 And the [one] having sworn by heaven swears by the throne of God and by the [One] sitting upon it.
while a person, swearing by heaven, swears by the throne of God, and by him who sits on it.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin and you have neglected the weightier [matters] of the law, justice and (mercy *N(k)O*) and faithfulness; These (now *no*) it was necessary to do those those not (to be leaving aside. *NK(o)*)
Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and caraway seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law – justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first.
24 Guides blind! you who [are] straining out the gnat, the however camel swallowing!
You blind guides, to strain out a gnat and to swallow a camel!
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, inwardly however they are full of greed and (self-indulgence. *NK(O)*)
Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside they are filled with the results of greed and self-indulgence.
26 Pharisee blind! do cleanse first the inside of the cup (and *KO*) (of the *ko*) (dish *KO*) that may become also the outside (of it *N(K)O*) clean.
You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and the dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For (you resemble *NK(o)*) tombs whitewashed which outside indeed appear beautiful, Inside however they are full of bones of [the] dead and of all impurity.
Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You are like whitewashed tombs, which indeed look fair outside, while inside they are filled with dead people’s bones and all kinds of filth.
28 Thus also you yourselves outside indeed appear to men righteous, inwardly however you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
It is the same with you. Outwardly, and to others, you have the look of religious people, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and sin.
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous
Alas for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You build the tombs of the prophets, and decorate the monuments of religious people,
30 and you say; If (we were *N(k)O*) in the days of the fathers of us, not then would (we were ourselves being *N(k)O*) with them partakers in the blood of the prophets,
and say “Had we been living in the days of our ancestors, we should have taken no part in their murder of the prophets!”
31 Thus you bear witness to yourselves that sons you are of those having murdered the prophets;
By doing this you are furnishing evidence against yourselves that you are true children of the people who murdered the prophets.
32 And you yourselves do fill up the measure of the fathers of you.
Go on then, finish what your ancestors began!
You snakes and children of snakes! How can you escape being sentenced to Gehenna? (Geenna g1067)
34 Because of this behold I myself send to you prophets and wise [men] and scribes; (and *k*) Some of them you will kill and will crucify and [some] of them you will flog in the synagogues of you and will persecute from town to town;
That is why I send you prophets, wise people, and teachers of the Law, some of whom you will crucify and kill, and some of whom you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from town to town;
35 so that may come upon you all [the] blood righteous being poured out upon the earth, from the blood of Abel the righteous until the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.
so that on your heads may fall every drop of innocent blood split on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel down to that of Zechariah, Barachiah’s son, whom you murdered between the Temple and the altar.
36 Amen I say to you; (that *o*) will come these things all upon generation this.
All this, I tell you, will come home to the present generation.
37 Jerusalem Jerusalem you who [are] (killing *NK(o)*) the prophets and stoning those sent to her! How often I wanted to gathered together the children of you, in which way a hen gathers together the chicks (of her *N(k)O*) under the wings, and not you were willing?
Jerusalem! Jerusalem! She who slays the prophets and stones the messengers sent to her – Oh, how often have I wished to gather your children round me, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not come!
38 Behold is left to you the house of you desolate!
Verily, your house is left to you desolate!
39 I say for to you; certainly not Me shall you see from now until when you may say; Blessed [is] the [One] coming in [the] name of [the] Lord.’
For nevermore, I tell you, will you see me, until you say – “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”’
