²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

¹⁸ For ^(A)the wrath of God ^(B)is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be ^(C)known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, ^(D)have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world,^[a] in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they ^(E)became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ^22 (F)Claiming to be wise, they became fools,

⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan ^(A)with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for ^(B)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

³ And even ^(A)if our gospel is veiled, ^(B)it is veiled to ^(C)those who are perishing.

²⁸ And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, ^(A)God gave them up to ^(B)a debased mind to do ^(C)what ought not to be done.

³⁰ The man answered, “Why, this is ^(A)an amazing thing! ^(B)You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.

⁷ So they answered that they did not know where it came from. ⁸ And Jesus said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

¹⁶ “Woe to ^(A)you, ^(B)blind guides, who say, ^(C)‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁷ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or ^(D)the temple that has made the gold sacred? ¹⁸ And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by ^(E)the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ ¹⁹ You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or ^(F)the altar that makes the gift sacred? ²⁰ So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by ^(G)him who dwells in it. ²² And whoever swears by ^(H)heaven swears by ^(I)the throne of God and by ^(J)him who sits upon it.

^23 (K)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ^(L)you tithe mint and dill and ^(M)cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: ^(N)justice and mercy and faithfulness. ^(O)These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. ²⁴ You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing ^(P)a camel!

^25 (Q)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ^(R)you clean the outside of ^(S)the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of ^(T)greed and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of ^(U)the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.

^27 (V)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like ^(W)whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and ^(X)all uncleanness. ²⁸ So you also ^(Y)outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of ^(Z)hypocrisy and lawlessness.

³ And in the morning, ‘It will be stormy today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ ^(A)You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret ^(B)the signs of the times.