²³ “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth^(A) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.^(B) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

³⁷ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,^(A) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(B) and you were not willing.

⁴⁸ So you testify that you approve of what your ancestors did; they killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.^(A)

⁵¹ “You stiff-necked people!^(A) Your hearts^(B) and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! ⁵² Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute?^(C) They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him^(D)— ⁵³ you who have received the law that was given through angels^(E) but have not obeyed it.”

Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers

³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,^(A) stay there in Ephesus^(B) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines^(C) any longer ⁴ or to devote themselves to myths^(D) and endless genealogies.^(E) Such things promote controversial speculations^(F) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith.

³ If anyone teaches otherwise^(A) and does not agree to the sound instruction^(B) of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited^(C) and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words^(D) that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth^(E) and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁹ But avoid^(A) foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels^(B) about the law,^(C) because these are unprofitable and useless.^(D)