Matthew 23
GOD’S WORD Translation
Jesus Disapproves of the Example Set by the Jewish Leaders(A)
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The experts in Moses’ Teachings and the Pharisees teach with Moses’ authority. 3 So be careful to do everything they tell you. But don’t follow their example, because they don’t practice what they preach. 4 They make loads that are hard to carry and lay them on the shoulders of the people. However, they are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
5 “They do everything to attract people’s attention. They make their headbands large and the tassels on their shawls long. 6 They love the place of honor at dinners and the front seats in synagogues. 7 They love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have people call them Rabbi. 8 But don’t make others call you Rabbi, because you have only one teacher, and you are all followers. 9 And don’t call anyone on earth your father, because you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Don’t make others call you a leader, because you have only one leader, the Messiah. 11 The person who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 Whoever honors himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be honored.
The Hypocrisy of the Jewish Leaders
13 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. You don’t enter it yourselves, and you don’t permit others to enter when they try.[a]
15 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You cross land and sea to recruit a single follower, and when you do, you make that person twice as fit for hell as you are.
16 “How horrible it will be for you, you blind guides! You say, ‘To swear an oath by the temple doesn’t mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gold in the temple means a person must keep his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! What is more important, the gold or the temple that made the gold holy? 18 Again you say, ‘To swear an oath by the altar doesn’t mean a thing. But to swear an oath by the gift on the altar means a person must keep his oath.’ 19 You blind men! What is more important, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? 20 To swear an oath by the altar is to swear by it and by everything on it. 21 To swear an oath by the temple is to swear by it and by the one who lives there. 22 And to swear an oath by heaven is to swear by God’s throne and the one who sits on it.
23 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give ⌞God⌟ one-tenth of your mint, dill, and cumin. But you have neglected justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These are the most important things in Moses’ Teachings. You should have done these things without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain gnats ⌞out of your wine⌟, but you swallow camels.
25 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside they are full of greed and uncontrolled desires. 26 You blind Pharisees! First clean the inside of the cups and dishes so that the outside may also be clean.
27 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You are like whitewashed graves that look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead people’s bones and every kind of impurity. 28 So on the outside you look as though you have God’s approval, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of those who had God’s approval. 30 Then you say, ‘If we had lived at the time of our ancestors, we would not have helped to murder the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, finish what your ancestors started!
33 “You snakes! You poisonous snakes! How can you escape being condemned to hell? 34 I’m sending you prophets, wise men, and teachers of the Scriptures. You will kill and crucify some of them. Others you will whip in your synagogues and persecute from city to city. 35 As a result, you will be held accountable for all the innocent blood of those murdered on earth. This includes the murder of Abel, who had God’s approval, to that of Zechariah, son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 I can guarantee this truth: The people living now will be held accountable for all these things.
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you kill the prophets and stone to death those sent to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings! But you were not willing! 38 Your house will be abandoned, deserted. 39 I can guarantee that you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Footnotes
- 23:13 Some manuscripts and translations add verse 14: “How horrible it will be for you, experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You rob widows by taking their houses and then say long prayers to make yourselves look good. You will receive a most severe punishment.” (See Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.)
Matye 23
Nouvo Testaman: Vèsyon Kreyòl Fasil
Jezi kritike lidè relijye yo
(Mak 12:38-40; Lik 11:37-52; 20:45-47)
23 Jezi te kòmanse pale ak foul la ansanm ak disip li yo, li di: 2 “Pwofesè lalwa yo ak Farizyen yo deklare yo gen konpetans pou entèprete[a] Lalwa Moyiz la. 3 Obeyi epi fè tout sa yo anseye nou. Men pa fè sa yo fè, paske yo pa pratike sa y ap anseye a. 4 Yo fè yon pakèt lwa ki difisil pou moun obeyi, epi nou oblije pèp la obeyi yo, epi yo menm, yo p ap menm eseye fè sa lwa sa yo mande.[b]
5 Tout sa y ap fè se pou moun ka wè yo. Pa egzanp, pou yo montre moun jan yo espirityèl, yo fè ti bwat vèsè[c] yo abitye pote sou bra oubyen nan fwon pi gwo pase pa lòt moun. Yo mete franj[d] nan manto yo pi long pase pa lòt moun. 6 Yo renmen plas devan nan resepsyon. Yo renmen plas kote moun ka wè yo lè y al nan sinagòg. 7 Lè yo sou laplas piblik, yo renmen moun di yo bonjou jouk atè, yo renmen lè moun rele yo Mèt.
8 Men nou pa dwe kite moun rele nou Mèt paske nou gen yon sèl Mèt. Apre sa nou tout egal ego kòm frè ak sè. 9 Pa rele okenn moun sou latè Papa, paske se yon sèl papa nou genyen, epi se nan syèl li ye. 10 Pa kite okenn moun rele w Mèt, paske nou gen yon sèl mèt, se Kris la. 11 Moun ki pi enpòtan pami nou, se sila a k ap sèvi lòt moun yo. 12 Nenpòt moun k ap monte tèt yo, Bondye ap imilye yo; men tout moun ki chwazi imilye yo devan Bondye, Bondye ap leve tèt yo.
13 Kanta pou nou Farizyen ak pwofesè lalwa, yon malè tèrib gen pou tonbe sou nou! Nou twò ipokrit! Nou mete barikad sou wout ki mennen nan wayòm syèl la. Nou pa prale! Epi nou fè sa kapab pou anpeche lòt moun antre. 14 [e]
15 Kanta pou nou Farizyen ak pwofesè lalwa, yon malè tèrib gen pou tonbe sou nou! Nou twò ipokrit! Nou vwayaje toupatou sou lanmè tankou sou tè pou n chache konvèti moun. Lè nou jwenn youn, nou fè l vin merite lanfè de fwa plis pase nou.
16 Malè pou nou, avèg k ap mennen lòt moun. Nou di: Si yon moun sèmante sou tanp lan, li pa oblije kenbe pawòl li. Men si yon moun sèmante sou lò ki nan tanp la, li oblije kenbe pawòl li. 17 Nou avèg nou egare! Ki sa ki pi enpòtan: lò ki nan tanp lan oswa tanp la ki konsakre lò a?
18 Nou di tou: Si yon moun fè sèman sou lotèl la, li pa oblije kenbe pawòl li. Men si yon moun fè sèman sou ofrann ki sou lotèl la, li oblije kenbe pawòl li. 19 Bann avèg! Kisa ki pi enpòtan: ofrann nan ki sou lotèl la oswa lotèl ki konsakre ofrann nan? 20 Nenpòt moun ki fè sèman sou lotèl la, li sèmante sou nenpòt sa ki sou lotèl la. 21 Si yon moun fè sèman sou tanp la, li fè sèman sou Bondye ki nan tanp la tou. 22 Si yon moun fè sèman sou syèl la, li fè sèman sou chèz boure Bondye a, ak sou Bondye ki chita sou li.
23 Malè pou nou, nou menm Farizyen yo ak pwofesè lalwa yo! Nou twò ipokrit! Paske nou bay Bondye ladim sou pye mant, pye anetwale ak pye pèsi.[f] Men kanta pou sa ki enpòtan yo nan lalwa Moyiz la tankou jistis, kè sansib, fidelite, nou kale yo yon bèl vag. 24 Nou avèg epi n ap kondui moun! Yon bò, nou pase sa n ap bwè nan paswa pou nou pa vale mouch, yon lòt bò nou vale yon gwo chamo.
25 Malè pou nou, nou menm pwofesè lalwa ak Farizyen yo! Nou twò ipokrit! Paske nou netwaye deyò tas la ak deyò bòl la byen netwaye, men anndan yo plen ak bagay nou vòlè pou nou fè tèt nou plezi. 26 Farizyen avèg! Netwaye anndan tas la an premye, se lè sa a deyò a ap vin pwòp toutbon.
27 Malè pou nou, nou menm pwofesè lalwa ak Farizyen yo! Nou twò ipokrit! Paske nou tankou tonm yo pentire an blan. Deyò nou parèt byen bèl, men anndan nou plen ak zosman moun mouri ak tout kalite malpwòprete. 28 Se menm jan pou nou tou, nanpwen moun ki pi sen pase nou sou deyò, men anndan nou plen ak ipokrizi ak mechanste.
29 Malè pou nou, nou menm pwofesè lalwa ak Farizyen yo! Nou twò ipokrit! Paske nou bati tonm pou pwofèt yo, pou n montre anpil onè pou kav moun ki jis yo, 30 epi nou di si nou te viv nan tan zansèt yo, nou pa t gen anyen pou wè ak lanmò pwofèt yo. 31 Konsa nou rekonèt nou se pitit moun ki te asasinen pwofèt yo. 32 Enben, an avan non! Nou mèt fini travay zansèt nou te kòmanse a!
33 Bann ras vipè! Ki jan nou fè mete nan tèt nou n ap rive chape toumant lanfè a? 34 Se poutèt sa, mwen pral voye ba nou pwofèt, moun saj, ak moun ki konn anseye byen. Se sèten nou pral touye kèk nan yo, nou pral krisifye kèk lòt. Genyen nou pral bat nan sinagòg nou yo. Gen kèk lòt ankò n ap pèsekite soti yon vil rive nan yon lòt.
35 Konsa, n a resevwa chatiman pou tout moun inosan ki mouri sou latè soti sou Abèl, yon nonm ki te inosan, pou rive sou Zakari,[g] pitit Barachi a, nou te asasinen ant lotèl la ak kay ki apa pou Bondye a. 36 M pa kache di nou sa, Bondye p ap manke pini jenerasyon sa a.
Jezi bay avètisman pou Jerizalèm
(Lik 13:34-35)
37 Jerizalèm, O Jerizalèm! Ou touye pwofèt Bondye yo! Ou lapide mesaje Bondye yo! Mwen pa konn konbyen fwa mwen eseye rasanble tout pitit ou yo menm jan yon manman poul rasanble tout pitit li anba zèl li. Men ou pa janm vle! 38 Men kounye a, kay ou a pral rete vid. 39 Wi, m pa kache pale w, ou p ap wè m ankò, jouktan ou pare pou di: Benediksyon pou moun ki vini nan non Senyè a!”(A)
Footnotes
- 23:2 konpetans pou entèprete Literalman, “chita nan chèz Moyiz la”.
- 23:4 Oubyen “Yo mete sou do pèp la chay ki byen lou, ki difisil pou yo pote. Alòske yo menm, yo p ap menm touche l k ti dwèt yo.”
- 23:5 bwat vèsè Se yon ti bwat kui ki gen 4 vèsè enpòtan ladann. Gen kèk Juif ki konn mare yo sou fwon yo oubyen sou bwa goch pou montre jan yo atache a Bondye ak pawòl li. Anpil Farizyen te konn fè bwat pa yo pi gwo pase pa lòt moun yon fason pou di yo pi bon pase lòt moun.
- 23:5 franj Se yon dekorasyon ki fèt ak fil lèn ki te pann nan kat kwen manto oswa chal Juif yo met sou tèt yo pou yo priye. Yo te la pou fè yo sonje kòmandman Bondye yo (Nb 15:38-41).
- 23:14 Kèk kopi nan lang Grèk ajoute vèsè 14 la: “Kanta pou nou Farizyen ak pwofesè lalwa, yon malè tèrib gen pou tonbe sou nou! Nou twò ipokrit! N ap manje grenn je vèv yo, epi n ap fè gwo priyè long pou moun ka wè nou. Poutèt sa, pinisyon pa nou ap pi rèd pase pa lòt moun.” Gade nan Mak 12:40 ak Lik 20:47.
- 23:23 nou bay … pye pèsi Literalman, “Ou bay ladim sou mant, anetwale, epi pèsi.” Lalwa Moyiz la te oblije moun Izrayèl yo pou ye te pataje pwovizyon manje yo, yo te dwe konsakre yon dizyèm pati nan rekòt jaden yo ak sa yo te genyen bay Bondye (gade nan Lev 27:30-32; Det 26:12). Sa pa t gen ladan ti plant piti kon sa jan yo mansyone l isit la. Konsa Farizyen yo te bay plis pase sa yo te dwe pou yo te kapab sèten yo pa t vyole Lalwa.
- 23:35 Abèl, Zakari Nan Ansyen Testaman an ki nan lang Ebre, Abèl se premye moun yo te touye, epi Zakari se dènye moun yo te touye.
Matthew 23
New King James Version
Woe to the Scribes and Pharisees(A)
23 Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to His disciples, 2 saying: (B)“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore whatever they tell you [a]to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for (C)they say, and do not do. 4 (D)For they bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do to (E)be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. 6 (F)They love the [b]best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, ‘Rabbi, Rabbi.’ 8 (G)But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your [c]Teacher, [d]the Christ, and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; (H)for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 11 But (I)he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 (J)And whoever exalts himself will be [e]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be [f]exalted.
13 “But (K)woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in. 14 [g]Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (L)For you devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. Therefore you will receive greater condemnation.
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel land and sea to win one proselyte, and when he is won, you make him twice as much a son of [h]hell as yourselves.
16 “Woe to you, (M)blind guides, who say, (N)‘Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is obliged to perform it.’ 17 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gold (O)or the temple that [i]sanctifies the gold? 18 And, ‘Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing; but whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is obliged to perform it.’ 19 Fools and blind! For which is greater, the gift (P)or the altar that sanctifies the gift? 20 Therefore he who [j]swears by the altar, swears by it and by all things on it. 21 He who swears by the temple, swears by it and by (Q)Him who [k]dwells in it. 22 And he who swears by heaven, swears by (R)the throne of God and by Him who sits on it.
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (S)For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and (T)have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (U)For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and [l]self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! (V)For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 (W)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and [m]adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’
31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that (X)you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 (Y)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt. 33 Serpents, (Z)brood[n] of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell? 34 (AA)Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: (AB)some of them you will kill and crucify, and (AC)some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city, 35 (AD)that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, (AE)from the blood of righteous Abel to (AF)the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. 36 Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Jesus Laments over Jerusalem(AG)
37 (AH)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets (AI)and stones those who are sent to her! How often (AJ)I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks (AK)under her wings, but you were not willing! 38 See! Your house is left to you desolate; 39 for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, (AL)‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:3 NU omits to observe
- Matthew 23:6 Or place of honor
- Matthew 23:8 Leader
- Matthew 23:8 NU omits the Christ
- Matthew 23:12 put down
- Matthew 23:12 lifted up
- Matthew 23:14 NU omits v. 14.
- Matthew 23:15 Gr. Gehenna
- Matthew 23:17 NU sanctified
- Matthew 23:20 Swears an oath
- Matthew 23:21 M dwelt
- Matthew 23:25 M unrighteousness
- Matthew 23:29 decorate
- Matthew 23:33 offspring
Matthew 23
King James Version
23 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
2 Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:
3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.
4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,
6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
14 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.
16 Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
17 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifieth the gold?
18 And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
19 Ye fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifieth the gift?
20 Whoso therefore shall swear by the altar, sweareth by it, and by all things thereon.
21 And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein.
22 And he that shall swear by heaven, sweareth by the throne of God, and by him that sitteth thereon.
23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,
30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.
31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
32 Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers.
33 Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?
34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
38 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
39 For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.
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Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
