²⁰ He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.”

⁶ as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

⁹ I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived

²⁰ The young man said to him, “I have kept all these;^[a] what do I still lack?”

³¹ They come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but they will not obey them. For flattery is on their lips, but their heart is set on their gain.^{[a](A) 32} To them you are like a singer of love songs,^[b] one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; they hear what you say, but they will not do it.

⁵ holding to the outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid them!

¹¹ The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’^(A)

²⁹ But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”^(A)

Do Not Rob God

⁸ Will anyone rob God? Yet you are robbing me! But you say, “How are we robbing you?” In your tithes and offerings!^(A)

¹⁴ Moreover, I will make you a desolation and an object of mocking among the nations around you, in the sight of all who pass by.^(A)