Matthew 23:18-28

English Standard Version

¹⁸ And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by ^(A)the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or ^(B)the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by ^(C)him who dwells in it. ²² And whoever swears by ^(D)heaven swears by ^(E)the throne of God and by ^(F)him who sits upon it.

^23 (G)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ^(H)you tithe mint and dill and ^(I)cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: ^(J)justice and mercy and faithfulness. ^(K)These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing ^(L)a camel!

^25 (M)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ^(N)you clean the outside of ^(O)the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of ^(P)greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of ^(Q)the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

^27 (R)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like ^(S)whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and ^(T)all uncleanness. ²⁸ So you also ^(U)outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of ^(V)hypocrisy and lawlessness.