Add parallel Print Page Options

Jesus Denounces the Scribes and the Pharisees(A)

23 Then Jesus told the crowds and his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees administer the authority of Moses,[a] so do whatever they tell you and follow it, but stop doing what they do, because they don’t do what they say. They tie up burdens that are heavy and unbearable and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they refuse to lift a finger to remove them.

“They do everything to be seen by people. They increase the size of their phylacteries[b] and lengthen the tassels of their garments. They love to have the places of honor at festivals, the best seats in the synagogues, to be greeted in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’[c] by people.

“But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’[d] because you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers. And don’t call anyone on earth ‘Father,’ because you have only one Father, the one in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called ‘Teachers,’ because you have only one teacher, the Messiah![e] 11 The person who is greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

13 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door to the kingdom from[f] heaven in people’s faces. You don’t go in yourselves, and you don’t allow those who are trying to enter to go in.

14 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and say long prayers to cover it up. Therefore, you will receive greater condemnation![g]

15 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make a single convert, and when this happens you make him twice as fit for[h] hell[i] as you are.

16 “How terrible it will be for you, blind guides! You say, ‘Whoever swears an oath by the sanctuary is excused,[j] but whoever swears an oath by the gold of the sanctuary must keep his oath.’[k] 17 You blind fools! What is more important, the gold or the sanctuary that made the gold holy? 18 Again you say,[l] ‘Whoever swears an oath by the altar is excused,[m] but whoever swears by the gift that is on it must keep his oath.’[n] 19 You blind men![o] Which is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? 20 Therefore, the one who swears an oath by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 The one who swears an oath by the sanctuary swears by it and by the one who lives there. 22 And the one who swears an oath by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.

23 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your mint, dill, and cummin, but have neglected the more important matters of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness.[p] These are the things you should have practiced, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You filter out a gnat, yet swallow a camel!

25 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but on the inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup,[q] so that its outside may also be clean.

27 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you look righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

29 “How terrible it will be for you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. 30 Then you say, ‘If we had been living in the days of our ancestors, we would have had no part with them in shedding[r] the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Therefore, you testify against yourselves that you are descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Then finish what your ancestors started![s] 33 You snakes, you children of serpents! How can you escape being condemned to hell?[t]

34 “That is why I am sending you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from town to town. 35 As a result, you will be held accountable for[u] all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel[v] to the blood of Berechiah’s son Zechariah,[w] whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 I tell all of you[x] with certainty, all these things will happen to those living today.”[y]

Jesus Rebukes Jerusalem(B)

37 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones to death those who have been sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38 Look! Your house is left abandoned! 39 I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘How blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’”[z]

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:2 Lit. Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat
  2. Matthew 23:5 I.e. leather cases containing Scripture texts
  3. Matthew 23:7 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher.
  4. Matthew 23:8 Rabbi is Heb. for Master and/or Teacher
  5. Matthew 23:10 Or Christ
  6. Matthew 23:13 Lit. of
  7. Matthew 23:14 Other mss. omit vs. 14.
  8. Matthew 23:15 Lit. twice as much a son of
  9. Matthew 23:15 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom
  10. Matthew 23:16 Lit. is nothing
  11. Matthew 23:16 Lit. owes a debt
  12. Matthew 23:18 Lit. And
  13. Matthew 23:18 Lit. is nothing
  14. Matthew 23:18 Lit. owes a debt
  15. Matthew 23:19 Other mss. read blind and foolish men
  16. Matthew 23:23 Or faith
  17. Matthew 23:26 Other mss. read of the cup and the plate
  18. Matthew 23:30 The Gk. lacks shedding
  19. Matthew 23:32 Lit. Fill up the measure of your ancestors
  20. Matthew 23:33 Lit. Gehenna; a Gk. transliteration of the Heb. for Valley of Hinnom
  21. Matthew 23:35 Lit. on you will come
  22. Matthew 23:35 Cf. Gen 4:8
  23. Matthew 23:35 Cf. 2Chr 24:20-21
  24. Matthew 23:36 The Gk. pronoun you is pl.
  25. Matthew 23:36 Lit. to this generation
  26. Matthew 23:39 Cf. Ps 118:26; MT source citation reads Lord

23 Then tote · ho Jesus Iēsous spoke laleō to the ho crowds ochlos and kai to ho his autos disciples mathētēs, saying legō, “ The ho scribes grammateus and kai the ho Pharisees Pharisaios now sit kathizō on epi the ho chair kathedra of Moses Mōysēs. Therefore oun put into practice poieō and kai continue to do tēreō whatever hosos ean they tell legō you hymeis; but de do poieō not imitate poieō what kata they autos · ho do ergon, for gar they teach legō but kai do not ou practice poieō. For de they tie desmeuō up heavy barys burdens phortion, · kai hard to bear dysbastaktos, and kai lay epitithēmi them on epi · ho people’ s anthrōpos shoulders ōmos, · ho but de they thelō themselves autos are thelō not ou willing thelō to move kineō them autos with ho their autos finger daktylos. They do poieō all pas · de · ho their autos deeds ergon to pros · ho be seen theaomai by ho others anthrōpos: they make platynō · ho their autos phylacteries phylaktērion broad and kai their ho tassels kraspedon long megalynō, they love phileō · de the ho place prōtoklisia of honor at en · ho banquets deipnon and kai the ho most important seats prōtokathedria in en the ho synagogues synagōgē, and kai · ho greetings aspasmos in en the ho marketplaces agora, and kai to be called kaleō Rabbi rhabbi by hypo · ho others anthrōpos. But de you hymeis are not to be called kaleō Rabbi rhabbi,’ for gar you hymeis have eimi but one heis · ho teacher didaskalos, and de you hymeis are eimi all pas brothers adelphos. And kai do not call kaleō anyone on epi earth your hymeis father patēr,’ · ho for gar you hymeis have eimi but one heis · ho Father patēr, and he ho is in heaven ouranios. 10 Nor mēde should you be called kaleō instructors kathēgētēs,’ because hoti Christ Christos is eimi your hymeis only heis instructor kathēgētēs. · ho 11 The ho · de greatest megas among you hymeis will be eimi your hymeis servant diakonos. 12 And de whoever hostis will exalt hypsoō himself heautou will be humbled tapeinoō, and kai whoever hostis will humble tapeinoō himself heautou will be exalted hypsoō.

13  But de woe ouai to you hymeis, scribes grammateus and kai Pharisees Pharisaios, hypocrites hypokritēs, because hoti you shut kleiō the ho kingdom basileia of ho heaven ouranos in men’ s anthrōpos faces emprosthen. · ho For gar you hymeis neither ou enter eiserchomai yourselves nor oude allow aphiēmi those ho who would enter eiserchomai to go eiserchomai in .

15  Woe ouai to you hymeis, scribes grammateus and kai Pharisees Pharisaios, hypocrites hypokritēs, because hoti you travel periagō over · ho sea thalassa and kai · ho land xēros to gain poieō a single heis convert prosēlytos; and kai when hotan he becomes ginomai one, you make poieō him autos twice as much diplous a son hyios of hell geenna as diplous yourselves hymeis.

16  Woe ouai to you hymeis, blind typhlos guides hodēgos who ho say legō, ‘ If someone hos an swears omnyō by en the ho temple naos it means eimi nothing oudeis; but de if someone hos swears omnyō by en the ho gold chrysos of the ho temple naos, he is bound opheilō by his oath.’ 17 You fools mōros and kai blind typhlos men ! For gar which tis is eimi greater megas, the ho gold chrysos or ē the ho temple naos that ho makes the ho gold chrysos sacred hagiazō? 18 And kai you say, ‘ If someone hos an swears omnyō by en the ho altar thusiastērion it means eimi nothing oudeis; but de if someone hos swears omnyō by en the ho gift dōron that ho is on epanō it autos, he is bound opheilō by his oath.’ 19 How blind typhlos you are! For gar which tis is greater megas, the ho gift dōron or ē the ho altar thusiastērion that ho makes the ho gift dōron sacred hagiazō? 20 So oun the ho one who swears omnyō by en the ho altar thusiastērion, swears omnyō not only by en it autos but kai by en everything pas · ho on epanō it autos. 21 And kai the ho one who swears omnyō by en the ho temple naos, swears omnyō not only by en it autos but kai by en the ho one who dwells katoikeō there autos. 22 And kai the ho one who swears omnyō by en · ho heaven ouranos, swears omnyō not only by en the ho throne thronos of ho God theos but kai by en the ho one who sits kathēmai on epanō it autos.

23  Woe ouai to you hymeis, scribes grammateus and kai Pharisees Pharisaios, hypocrites hypokritēs, because hoti you tithe apodekatoō · ho mint hēdyosmon and kai · ho dill anēthon and kai · ho cumin kyminon, and kai have neglected aphiēmi the ho weightier barys matters of the ho law nomos: · ho justice krisis and kai · ho mercy eleos and kai · ho faithfulness pistis. These houtos · de you ought dei to have done poieō without neglecting aphiēmi the former kakeinos. 24 You blind typhlos guides hodēgos! · ho You strain diylizō out the ho gnat kōnōps but de gulp down katapinō the ho camel kamēlos!

25  Woe ouai to you hymeis, scribes grammateus and kai Pharisees Pharisaios, hypocrites hypokritēs, because hoti you clean katharizō off the ho outside exōthen of the ho cup potērion and kai the ho plate paropsis while de inside esōthen they are full gemō of ek greed harpagē and kai self-indulgence akrasia. 26 You blind typhlos Pharisee Pharisaios! First prōton clean katharizō the ho inside entos of the ho cup potērion, so hina that its autos outside ektos may become ginomai clean katharos too kai. · ho

27  Woe ouai to you hymeis, scribes grammateus and kai Pharisees Pharisaios, hypocrites hypokritēs, because hoti you are like paromoiazō whitewashed koniaō tombs taphos that hostis look phainō beautiful hōraios on the outside exōthen but de on the inside esōthen are full gemō of dead men’ s nekros bones osteon and kai all pas kinds of filth akatharsia. 28 So houtōs you hymeis also kai outwardly exōthen appear phainō to ho others anthrōpos as righteous dikaios but de within esōthen you are eimi full mestos of hypocrisy hypokrisis and kai lawlessness anomia.

29  Woe ouai to you hymeis, scribes grammateus and kai Pharisees Pharisaios, hypocrites hypokritēs, because hoti you build oikodomeō the ho tombs taphos of the ho prophets prophētēs and kai decorate kosmeō the ho graves mnēmeion of the ho righteous dikaios, 30 and kai you say legō, ‘ If ei we had lived eimi in en the ho days hēmera of ho our hēmeis fathers patēr, we would an not ou have eimi taken part with koinōnos them autos in en shedding the ho blood haima of the ho prophets prophētēs.’ 31 By hōste saying this you testify martyreō against yourselves heautou that hoti you are eimi descendants hyios of those ho who murdered phoneuō the ho prophets prophētēs. 32 Fill plēroō up then kai the ho measure metron of ho your hymeis fathers’ patēr guilt. 33 You snakes ophis! You brood gennēma of vipers echidna! How pōs will you escape pheugō from apo · ho being condemned krisis to · ho hell geenna? 34 Therefore dia houtos I egō am sending apostellō you hymeis prophets prophētēs and kai wise sophos men and kai scribes grammateus, some of ek whom autos you will kill apokteinō and kai crucify stauroō, and kai some ek of whom autos you will flog mastigoō in en · ho your hymeis synagogues synagōgē and kai pursue diōkō from apo town polis to eis town polis, 35 so hopōs that upon epi you hymeis will come erchomai all pas the righteous dikaios blood haima shed ekchunnomai on epi · ho earth , from apo the ho blood haima of righteous dikaios Abel Habel · ho to heōs the ho blood haima of Zechariah Zacharias son hyios of Barachiah Barachias, whom hos you murdered phoneuō between metaxy the ho sanctuary naos and kai the ho altar thusiastērion. 36 I tell legō you hymeis the truth amēn, all pas these things houtos will come hēkō upon epi · ho this houtos generation genea.

37  Jerusalem Ierousalēm, O Jerusalem Ierousalēm, you who ho kill apokteinō the ho prophets prophētēs and kai stone lithoboleō those ho who are sent apostellō to pros you autos! How posakis often have I wanted thelō to gather episynagō · ho your sy children teknon together as hos tropos a hen ornis gathers episynagō · ho her autos chicks nossion under hypo her ho wings pteryx, but kai you were not ou willing thelō! 38 Look idou, your hymeis house oikos is left aphiēmi to you hymeis · ho desolate erēmos! 39 For gar I say legō to you hymeis, you will not ou mē see me egō from apo now arti until heōs an you say legō, ‘ Blessed eulogeō is he ho who comes erchomai in en the name onoma of the Lord kyrios.’”