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27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within they are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘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.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves, that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to hell?[a] 34 Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from town to town, 35 that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of innocent Abel to the blood of Zechari′ah the son of Barachi′ah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, all this will come upon this generation.

The Lament over Jerusalem

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 38 Behold, your house is forsaken and desolate.[b] 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:33 Greek Gehenna
  2. Matthew 23:38 Other ancient authorities omit and desolate

27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(A) which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets(B) and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.(C) 32 Go ahead, then, and complete(D) what your ancestors started!(E)

33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers!(F) How will you escape being condemned to hell?(G) 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;(H) others you will flog in your synagogues(I) and pursue from town to town.(J) 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel(K) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,(L) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.(M) 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.(N)

37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,(O) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(P) and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(Q) 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[a](R)

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:39 Psalm 118:26