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Woes to the Pharisees and Lawyers

37 Now when He had spoken, a Pharisee *asked Him to have a meal with him. And He went in and reclined at the table. 38 But when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first [a](A)ceremonially washed before the [b]meal. 39 But (B)the Lord said to him, “Now (C)you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but [c]inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness. 40 (D)You foolish ones, did not He who made the outside make the inside also? 41 But (E)give that which is within as charity, and [d]then all things are (F)clean for you.

42 (G)But woe to you Pharisees! For you (H)pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God, but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. 43 Woe to you Pharisees! For you (I)love the best seat in the synagogues and the respectful greetings in the marketplaces. 44 (J)Woe to you! For you are like [e]concealed tombs, and the people who walk over them are unaware of it.”

45 Now one of the (K)scholars of the Law answered and said to Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us too.” 46 But He said, “Woe to you (L)scholars of the Law as well! For (M)you weigh men down with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves will not even touch the burdens with one of your fingers. 47 (N)Woe to you! For you build the [f]tombs of the prophets, but your fathers killed them. 48 So you are witnesses and approve the deeds of your fathers; because it was they who killed them, and you build their tombs. 49 For this reason also (O)the wisdom of God said, ‘(P)I will send to them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and some they will [g]persecute, 50 so that the blood of all the prophets, shed (Q)since the foundation of the world, may be [h]charged against this generation, 51 from (R)the blood of Abel to (S)the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the house of God; yes, I tell you, it shall be [i]charged against this generation.’ 52 Woe to you, (T)scholars of the Law! For you have taken away the key of knowledge; (U)you yourselves did not enter, and you hindered those who were entering.”

53 And when He left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to be very hostile and to question Him closely on many subjects,

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 11:38 Lit baptized
  2. Luke 11:38 Or lunch
  3. Luke 11:39 Lit your inside is full
  4. Luke 11:41 Lit behold
  5. Luke 11:44 Or indistinct
  6. Luke 11:47 Or monuments to
  7. Luke 11:49 Or drive out
  8. Luke 11:50 Or required of
  9. Luke 11:51 Or required of

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.”

45 One of the experts in the law(P) answered him, “Teacher, when you say these things you insult us too.”

46 Then he said, “Woe also to you experts in the law! You load people with burdens(Q) that are hard to carry, and yet you yourselves don’t touch these burdens with one of your fingers.(R)

47 “Woe to you! You build tombs[g] for the prophets,(S) and your fathers killed(T) them. 48 Therefore, you are witnesses(U) that you approve[h](V) the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their monuments.[i] 49 Because of this, the wisdom of God(W) said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles,(X) and some of them they will kill and persecute,’(Y) 50 so that this generation(Z) may be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world[j](AA) 51 from the blood of Abel(AB) to the blood of Zechariah,(AC) who perished between the altar and the sanctuary.

“Yes, I tell you, this generation will be held responsible.[k]

52 “Woe to you experts in the law! You have taken away the key to knowledge.(AD) You didn’t go in yourselves, and you hindered(AE) those who were trying to go in.”

53 When he left there,[l] the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose(AF) him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things;

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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!
  7. 11:47 Or graves
  8. 11:48 Lit witnesses and approve
  9. 11:48 Other mss omit their monuments
  10. 11:50 Lit so that the blood of all... world may be required of this generation,
  11. 11:51 Lit you, it will be required of this generation
  12. 11:53 Other mss read And as he was saying these things to them