Matthew 22:34-23:11
Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Primary Commands
34 When(A) the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 And one of them, an expert in the law, asked a question to test Him:(B) 36 “Teacher, which command in the law is the greatest?”[a]
37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.(C)[b] 38 This is the greatest and most important[c] command. 39 The second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.(D)[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets depend[e] on these two commands.”(E)
The Question about the Messiah
41 While the Pharisees were together, Jesus questioned them,(F) 42 “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose Son is He?”
“David’s,” they told Him.
43 He asked them, “How is it then that David, inspired by the Spirit,[f] calls Him ‘Lord’(G):
44 The Lord declared to my Lord,
‘Sit at My right hand
until I put Your enemies under Your feet’?[g](H)[h]
45 “If David calls Him ‘Lord,’ how then can the Messiah be his Son?” 46 No one was able to answer Him at all,[i] and from that day no one dared to question Him anymore.(I)
Religious Hypocrites Denounced
23 Then(J) Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:(K) 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.[j](L) 3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do,[k] because they don’t practice what they teach.(M) 4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry[l] and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger[m] to move them.(N) 5 They do everything[n] to be observed by others: They enlarge their phylacteries[o](O) and lengthen their tassels.[p](P) 6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,(Q) 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
8 “But as for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher,[q] and you are all brothers.(R) 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.(S) 10 And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master,[r] the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant.(T)
Footnotes
- Matthew 22:36 Lit is great
- Matthew 22:37 Dt 6:5
- Matthew 22:38 Lit and first
- Matthew 22:39 Lv 19:18
- Matthew 22:40 Or hang
- Matthew 22:43 Lit David in Spirit
- Matthew 22:44 Other mss read until I make Your enemies Your footstool
- Matthew 22:44 Ps 110:1
- Matthew 22:46 Lit answer Him a word
- Matthew 23:2 Perhaps a special chair for teaching in synagogues, or a metaphorical phrase for teaching with Moses’ authority
- Matthew 23:3 Lit do according to their works
- Matthew 23:4 Other mss omit that are hard to carry
- Matthew 23:4 Lit lift with their finger
- Matthew 23:5 Lit do all their works
- Matthew 23:5 Small leather boxes containing OT texts, worn by Jews on their arms and foreheads
- Matthew 23:5 Other mss add on their robes
- Matthew 23:8 Other mss add the Messiah
- Matthew 23:10 Or Teacher
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.
