Matthew 23
1 Then Jesus said to the crowd and to us his disciples,
Nígbà náà ni Jesu wí fún ọ̀pọ̀ ènìyàn àti àwọn ọmọ-ẹ̀yìn rẹ̀ pé,
2 “Moses was the [renowned] teacher who taught [the people the laws that God gave him] [MTY]. Now, the Pharisees and the men who teach our [Jewish] laws have made themselves the ones who interpret those laws [IDM].
“Àwọn olùkọ́ òfin àti àwọn Farisi jókòó ní ipò Mose,
3 Consequently, you should do whatever they tell you that you must do. But do not do what they do, because they themselves do not do what they tell [you that you must do].
nítorí náà, ẹ gbọdọ̀ gbọ́ tiwọn, kí ẹ sì ṣe ohun gbogbo tí wọ́n bá sọ fún yín. Ṣùgbọ́n ẹ má ṣe ohun tí wọ́n ṣe, nítorí àwọn pàápàá kì í ṣe ohun tí wọn kọ́ yín láti ṣe.
4 They [require you to obey many rules that are difficult to obey]. But they themselves [do not help anyone obey those rules. It is] as if they are tying up loads that are hard to carry and putting them on your shoulders [MET] [for you to carry. But they] themselves [do not desire to help anyone obey those laws. They are like] people who do not want to lift [even the slightest load] that they [could lift] [MET]
Wọ́n á di ẹrù wúwo tí ó sì ṣòro láti rù, wọ́n a sì gbé e le àwọn ènìyàn léjìká, ṣùgbọ́n àwọn tìkára wọn kò jẹ́ fi ìka wọn kan an.
5 [with] one finger. Whatever they do, they do it to be seen by other people {so that other people will see them doing that}. [For example], they make extra wide the tiny boxes containing portions of Scripture that they wear on their arms. They enlarge the tassels on their robes, [to make others think that they are pious].
“Ohun gbogbo tí wọ́n ń ṣe, wọ́n ń ṣe é kí àwọn ènìyàn ba à lè rí wọn ni. Wọ́n ń sọ filakteri wọn di gbígbòòrò. Wọ́n tilẹ̀ ń bùkún ìṣẹ́tí aṣọ oyè wọn nígbà gbogbo kí ó ba à lè máa tóbi sí i.
6 [They want people to honor them. For example], at dinner parties they sit in the seats where the most important people sit. In the places of worship [they want to sit] in the seats where the most honored people sit.
Wọ́n fẹ́ ipò ọlá ní ibi àsè, àti níbi ìjókòó ìyàsọ́tọ̀ ni Sinagọgu.
7 Also, [they want people to] greet them [respectfully] in the marketplaces and to honor them by calling them ‘Teacher’.
Wọ́n fẹ́ kí ènìyàn máa kí wọn ní ọjà, kí àwọn ènìyàn máa pè wọ́n ní ‘Rabbi.’
8 But you [who are my disciples] should not allow people to address you [honorably] as ‘Rabbi’, [which means ‘teacher]’. I [am the] only one who is [really] your teacher, which means that you are all [equal, like] brothers and sisters, [and none of you should act superior to another, as the Pharisees do].
“Ṣùgbọ́n kí a má ṣe pè yín ni Rabbi, nítorí pé ẹnìkan ni Olùkọ́ yín, àní Kristi, ará sì ni gbogbo yín.
9 Do not [honor anyone] on earth [by] addressing him as ‘Father’, because God, your Father in heaven, is the only [spiritual] father of all of you.
Ẹ má ṣe pe ẹnikẹ́ni ní baba yín ni ayé yìí, nítorí baba kan náà ni ẹ ní tí ó ń bẹ ní ọ̀run.
10 Do not [allow people to] call you ‘Instructors’, because I, the Messiah, am the one instructor who [teaches all of] you.
Kí a má sì ṣe pè yín ní Olùkọ́ nítorí Olùkọ́ kan ṣoṣo ni ẹ̀yin ní, òun náà ni Kristi.
11 In contrast, everyone among you who wants [God to consider them] to be important must serve others as servants do.
Ṣùgbọ́n ẹni tí ó bá pọ̀jù nínú yín, ni yóò jẹ́ ìránṣẹ́ yín.
12 [God] will humble those who exalt themselves. And [he] will exalt those who humble themselves.”
Ṣùgbọ́n ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá gbé ara rẹ̀ ga ni a ó sì rẹ̀ sílẹ̀, ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá sì rẹ ara wọn sílẹ̀ ni a ó gbéga.
13 [Then Jesus said to the religious leaders], “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! There will be terrible punishment for [you, because by teaching what is false], you [prevent people] [MTY/HYP] [who are thinking about letting] God rule their lives [from doing that] [MET]. [What you are doing is like] closing a gate [MET] [so that people who] are wanting to enter [a city cannot go in]. As for you, [you do not let] God [rule your lives. Neither do you allow] other people [to let God rule their lives. What you do is like] not going into a [house] yourselves, and not allowing others to enter it [either] [MET].”
“Ègbé ni fún yín, ẹ̀yin olùkọ́ òfin àti Farisi, ẹ̀yin àgàbàgebè! Ẹ̀yin sé ìjọba ọ̀run mọ́ àwọn ènìyàn nítorí ẹ̀yin tìkára yín kò wọlé, bẹ́ẹ̀ ni ẹ̀yin kò jẹ́ kí àwọn tí ó fẹ́ wọlé ó wọlé.
15 “You are hypocrites, you men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees! Your punishment will be terrible, because you exert yourselves very much to get [even] one person to believe what you teach. For instance, you travel across seas and lands [to distant places] in order to do that. And [as a result], when one person [believes what you teach], you make that person much more deserving to go to hell than you yourselves [deserve to].” (Geenna g1067)
“Ègbé ni fún yín, ẹ̀yin olùkọ́ òfin àti Farisi, ẹ̀yin àgàbàgebè! Nítorí ẹ̀yin rin yí ilẹ̀ àti òkun ká láti yí ẹnìkan lọ́kàn padà, ṣùgbọ́n ẹ̀yin ń sọ ọ́ di ọmọ ọ̀run àpáàdì ní ìlọ́po méjì ju ẹ̀yin pàápàá. (Geenna g1067)
16 “You [Jewish leaders], your punishment will be terrible! You are [like people who are] blind [MET] who are trying to lead others. You say, ‘[In the case of] those who promise to [do] something and then ask the Temple [to affirm what they have promised], it means nothing [if they do not do what] they have promised. But if they ask the gold that is in the Temple [to affirm what they have promised], they must do what they promised.’
“Ègbé ni fún yín, ẹ̀yin afọ́jú ti ń fi ọ̀nà han afọ́jú! Tí ó wí pé, ‘Ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó ba fi tẹmpili búra kò sí nǹkan kan, ṣùgbọ́n bí ẹnikẹ́ni bá fi wúrà inú tẹmpili búra, ó di ajigbèsè.’
17 You are fools, and you are [like people who are] blind [MET]! The gold [that is in the Temple] is important, but [the Temple] is even more important [RHQ], because it is the Temple that the gold is in that sets the gold apart for a special use for God.
Ẹ̀yin aláìmòye afọ́jú: èwo ni ó ga jù, wúrà tàbí tẹmpili tí ó ń sọ wúrà di mímọ́?
18 Also [you say], ‘In the case of those who promise to [do] something and then ask [the altar to affirm what they have promised], it means nothing [if they do not do what they have promised]. But if they ask the gift [that] they have put on the altar [to support what they have promised], they must do [what they promised].’
Àti pé, ẹnikẹ́ni tó bá fi pẹpẹ búra, kò jámọ́ nǹkan, ṣùgbọ́n bí ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó ba fi ẹ̀bùn tí ó wà lórí rẹ̀ búra, ó di ajigbèsè.
19 [You are like people who are] blind [MET]. The gift [that is offered] on the altar is important, but the altar is even more important [RHQ] because it is the altar on which the offering is offered that sets it apart for a special use for God.
Ẹ̀yin aláìmòye afọ́jú wọ̀nyí! Èwo ni ó pọ̀jù: ẹ̀bùn tí ó wà lórí pẹpẹ ni tàbí pẹpẹ fúnra rẹ̀ tí ó sọ ẹ̀bùn náà di mímọ́?
20 So, those who promise to do something, and then ask the altar [to affirm what they have promised] are asking everything on the altar [to support what they promised].
Nítorí náà ẹnikẹ́ni tí ó bá ń fi pẹpẹ búra, ó fi í búra àti gbogbo ohun tí ó wà lórí rẹ̀.
21 Those who promise to do something, and then ask the Temple [to affirm what they promised], are asking that [God], to whom the Temple belongs, [will affirm what they have promised].
Àti pé, ẹni tí ó bá fi tẹmpili búra, ó fi í búra àti ẹni tí ń gbé inú rẹ̀.
22 Those who promise to do something and then ask heaven [to affirm what they promised] are asking the throne of God and [God], who sits on that throne, [to affirm what they promised].”
Àti pé, ẹni tí ó bá sì fi ọ̀run búra, ó fi ìtẹ́ Ọlọ́run àti ẹni tí ó jókòó lórí rẹ̀ búra.
23 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites because, [even though] you give [to God] a tenth of [the herbs you produce, such as] mint, dill, and cummin, you do not [obey God’s] laws that are more important. [For example, you do not act] justly toward others, you do not act mercifully toward people, and you are not trustworthy. It is good to [give a tenth of your herbs] to God, but you should also [obey] these other [more important laws].
“Ègbé ni fún yín ẹ̀yin olùkọ́ òfin àti Farisi, ẹ̀yin àgàbàgebè! Nítorí ẹ̀yin ń gba ìdámẹ́wàá minti, dili àti kumini, ẹ̀yin sì ti fi ohun tí ó ṣe pàtàkì jùlọ nínú òfin sílẹ̀ láìṣe, ìdájọ́, àánú àti ìgbàgbọ́. Wọ̀nyí ni ó tọ́ tí ẹ̀yin ìbá ṣe, ẹ̀yin kò bá fi wọ̀n-ọn-nì sílẹ̀ láìṣe.
24 You [leaders are like] blind people [who are trying to lead others. According to your laws you say that touching gnats and camels makes you unacceptable to God. What you are doing is like] straining a gnat [out of a jar of water so that you do not swallow it and thereby become unacceptable to God], and [at the same time] swallowing a camel [with the water] [MET]!”
Ẹ̀yin afọ́jú tó ń fi afọ́jú mọ̀nà! Ẹ tu kòkòrò-kantíkantí tó bọ́ sì yín lẹ́nu nù, ẹ gbé ìbákasẹ mì.
25 “You men who teach people the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites! You are greedy and selfish, but you [make yourselves appear holy. You are like] cups and plates that have been cleaned on the outside, but on the inside [they are very filthy].
“Ègbé ni fún yín ẹ̀yin Farisi àti ẹ̀yin olùkọ́ òfin, ẹ̀yin àgàbàgebè. Ẹ̀yin ń fọ òde ago àti àwo ṣùgbọ́n inú rẹ̀ kún fún ìrẹ́jẹ àti ẹ̀gbin gbogbo.
26 You blind Pharisees! First you must [stop being greedy and selfish]. [Then you will be able to do what] is [righteous. That will be like] cleaning the inside of a cup first. Then when you clean [MET] the outside [of the cup], [the cup will truly be clean].”
Ìwọ afọ́jú Farisi, tètè kọ́ fọ inú ago àti àwo, gbogbo ago náà yóò sì di mímọ́.
27 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees, your punishment will be terrible! You are hypocrites! You are like tombs [SIM] that are painted white [so that people can see them and avoid touching them]. The outside surfaces are beautiful, but inside they are full of dead people’s bones and filth.
“Ègbé ni fún yín ẹ̀yin Farisi àti ẹ̀yin olùkọ́ òfin, ẹ̀yin àgàbàgebè. Ẹ dàbí ibojì funfun tí ó dára ní wíwò, ṣùgbọ́n tí ó kún fún egungun ènìyàn àti fún ẹ̀gbin àti ìbàjẹ́.
28 You are [like those tombs]. When people look at you, they think that you are righteous, but in your (inner beings/hearts) you are hypocrites and you disobey [God’s] commands.”
Ẹ̀yin gbìyànjú láti farahàn bí ènìyàn mímọ́, olódodo, lábẹ́ aṣọ mímọ́ yín ni ọkàn tí ó kún fún ìbàjẹ́ pẹ̀lú oríṣìíríṣìí àgàbàgebè àti ẹ̀ṣẹ̀ wà.
29 “You men who teach the [Jewish] laws and you Pharisees are hypocrites! Your punishment will be terrible! You rebuild the tombs of the [prophets whom others killed long ago]. You decorate the monuments [that honor] righteous [people].
“Ègbé ni fún yín ẹ̀yin olùkọ́ òfin àti Farisi, ẹ̀yin àgàbàgebè, nítorí ẹ̀yin kọ́ ibojì àwọn wòlíì tí í ṣe ibojì àwọn olódodo ní ọ̀ṣọ́.
30 You say, ‘If we had [lived] when our ancestors [MET] [lived], we would not have helped [MET] those who killed [MTY] the prophets.’
Ẹ̀yin sì wí pé, ‘Àwa ìbá wà ní àsìkò àwọn baba wa, àwa kì bá ní ọwọ́ nínú ẹ̀jẹ̀ àwọn wòlíì’.
31 Thus [you recognize that you should honor the prophets, but you disregard the word of God that other men whom God has sent teach you. In that way] you testify against yourselves that you are descendants and disciples [MET] of those who killed the prophets.
Ǹjẹ́ ẹ̀yin ni ẹlẹ́rìí fún ara yín pé, ẹ̀yin ni ọmọ àwọn tí ó pa àwọn wòlíì.
32 You are as ready to murder people as [MET] your ancestors were!
Àti pé, ẹ̀yin ń tẹ̀lé ìṣísẹ̀ àwọn baba yín. Ẹ̀yin ń kún òsùwọ̀n ìwà búburú wọn dé òkè.
33 [You people are so wicked] You are [as dangerous as poisonous] snakes [DOU, MET]! (You [foolishly] think that you will escape being punished in hell!/Do you [foolishly] think that you will escape when [God] punishes [wicked people] in hell?) [RHQ] (Geenna g1067)
“Ẹ̀yin ejò! Ẹ̀yin paramọ́lẹ̀! Ẹ̀yin yóò ti ṣe yọ nínú ẹ̀bi ọ̀run àpáàdì? (Geenna g1067)
34 Take note that this is why I will send prophets, wise men, and other men who will teach you [my message]. You will kill some of them by nailing them to crosses, and you will kill some in other ways. You will whip some of them in the places where you worship, and [you will] chase them from city to city.
Nítorí náà èmi yóò rán àwọn wòlíì àti àwọn ọlọ́gbọ́n ọkùnrin tí ó kún fún ẹ̀mí mímọ́, àti àwọn akọ̀wé sí yín. Ẹ̀yin yóò pa àwọn kan nínú wọn nípa kíkàn wọ́n mọ́ àgbélébùú. Ẹ̀yin yóò fi pàṣán na àwọn ẹlòmíràn nínú Sinagọgu yín, tí ẹ̀yin yóò sì ṣe inúnibíni sí wọn láti ìlú dé ìlú.
35 As a result, God will consider that you are guilty for killing [SYN] all the righteous [people], including killing [MTY] [Adam’s son] Abel, who was a righteous man [SYN], and Zechariah, the son of Barachiah, whom you [are guilty of] killing [in the holy place] between the Temple and the altar, and for killing [all the prophets] who lived between [the times that those two men lived].
Kí ẹ̀yin lè jẹ̀bi gbogbo ẹ̀jẹ̀ àwọn olódodo tí ẹ ta sílẹ̀ ní ayé, láti ẹ̀jẹ̀ Abeli títí dé ẹ̀jẹ̀ Sekariah ọmọ Berekiah ẹni tí ẹ pa nínú tẹmpili láàrín ibi pẹpẹ àti ibi ti ẹ yà sí mímọ́ fún Ọlọ́run.
36 Think about this: You people who have observed my ministry, it is you whom [God] will punish [for killing all] those [prophets]!”
Lóòótọ́ ni mo wí fún yín, gbogbo nǹkan wọ̀nyí yóò wà sórí ìran yìí.
37 “O [people of] Jerusalem [MTY, APO], you killed the prophets [who lived long ago], and you killed others whom [God] sent to you. You killed them by throwing stones at them [DOU]! Many times I wanted to gather you together [to protect you], like a hen gathers her young chicks under her wings [MET]. But you did not want [me to do that].
“Jerusalẹmu, Jerusalẹmu, ìlú tí ó pa àwọn wòlíì, tí ó sì sọ òkúta lu àwọn tí a rán sí i. Ọ̀pọ̀ ìgbà ni èmi tí ń fẹ́ kó àwọn ọmọ rẹ jọ pọ̀ gẹ́gẹ́ bí àgbébọ̀ adìyẹ ti í dáàbò bo àwọn ọmọ rẹ̀ lábẹ́ ìyẹ́ rẹ, ṣùgbọ́n ẹ̀yin kọ̀.
38 So listen to this: Your city [SYN] will [soon] become an uninhabited place.
Wò ó, a fi ilé yín sílẹ̀ fún yín ní ahoro.
39 Keep this in mind: You will see me again only when I [return], and you say [about me], ‘[God] is truly pleased with this man who comes with God’s authority [MTY].’”
Nítorí èmi sọ èyí fún yín, ẹ̀yin kì yóò rí mi mọ́, títí ẹ̀yin yóò fi sọ pé, ‘Olùbùkún ni ẹni tó ń bọ̀ ní orúkọ Olúwa.’”
