Religious Hypocrisy Denounced

37 As he was speaking, a Pharisee(A) asked him to dine with him. So he went in and reclined at the table. 38 When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing[a](B) before dinner.(C) 39 But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed(D) and evil.(E) 40 Fools!(F) Didn’t he who made the outside make the inside too? 41 But give from what is within to the poor,[b](G) and then everything is clean(H) for you.

42 “But woe(I) to you Pharisees! You give a tenth[c](J) of mint, rue, and every kind of herb, and you bypass[d] justice(K) and love for God.[e](L) These things you should have done without neglecting the others.

43 “Woe to you Pharisees! You love the front seat(M) in the synagogues(N) and greetings in the marketplaces.

44 “Woe to you![f] You are like unmarked graves; (O) the people who walk over them don’t know it.”

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 11:38 Lit he did not first wash
  2. 11:41 Or But donate from the heart as charity
  3. 11:42 Or a tithe
  4. 11:42 Or neglect
  5. 11:42 Lit the justice and the love of God
  6. 11:44 Other mss add scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

Woes on the Pharisees and the Experts in the Law

37 When Jesus had finished speaking, a Pharisee invited him to eat with him; so he went in and reclined at the table.(A) 38 But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.(B)

39 Then the Lord(C) said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.(D) 40 You foolish people!(E) Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor,(F) and everything will be clean for you.(G)

42 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth(H) of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God.(I) You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.(J)

43 “Woe to you Pharisees, because you love the most important seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces.(K)

44 “Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves,(L) which people walk over without knowing it.”

Read full chapter