Matthew 23:25-39

English Standard Version

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

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

²⁹^(K)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹Thus you witness against yourselves that you are ^(L)sons of those who murdered the prophets. ³²^(M)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. ³³You serpents, ^(N)you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to ^(O)hell? ³⁴^(P)Therefore ^(Q)I send you ^(R)prophets and wise men and ^(S)scribes, ^(T)some of whom you will kill and crucify, and ^(U)some you will ^(V)flog in your synagogues and ^(W)persecute from town to town, ³⁵so that on you may come all ^(X)the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous ^(Y)Abel to the blood of ^(Z)Zechariah the son of Barachiah,^[a] whom you murdered between ^(AA)the sanctuary and ^(AB)the altar. ³⁶Truly, I say to you, ^(AC)all these things will come upon this generation.

Lament over Jerusalem

³⁷^(AD)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that ^(AE)kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have ^(AF)gathered ^(AG)your children together ^(AH)as a hen gathers her brood ^(AI)under her wings, and ^(AJ)you were not willing! ³⁸See, ^(AK)your house is left to you desolate. ³⁹For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ^(AL)‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”