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.
馬太福音 23
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
譴責律法教師和法利賽人
23 隨後，耶穌對百姓和門徒說： 2 「律法教師和法利賽人坐在摩西的位子上講授律法。 3 你們要遵行他們的教導，但不要效法他們的行為，因為他們言行不一。 4 他們捆好重擔放在別人肩上，而自己連一根指頭也不肯動！
5 「他們的所作所為是為了給人看的，他們把額上佩戴的經文盒子加寬了，又將衣裳的穗邊加長了。 6 他們喜歡宴席中的上座和會堂裡的首位。 7 他們喜歡別人在街市上問候他們，稱呼他們為老師[a]。 8 但你們不要讓別人稱呼你們為老師，因為你們只有一位老師，你們彼此都是弟兄。 9 不要稱呼地上的人為父親，因為你們只有一位父親，祂在天上。 10 不要讓人稱你們為導師，因為你們只有一位導師——基督。 11 你們當中誰最偉大，誰就要作你們的僕人。 12 自高的人必遭貶抑，謙卑的人必得尊榮。
13 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！因為你們當著人們的面關閉天國之門，自己不進去，也不讓別人進去。
14 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！因為你們侵吞寡婦的財產，還假意做冗長的禱告。因此，你們會受到更嚴厲的刑罰。[b]
15 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！因為你們走遍海洋和陸地去引人入教，等人入了教，卻使他淪為地獄之子，比你們還壞兩倍。
16 「瞎眼的嚮導啊，你們有禍了！你們說，『指著聖殿發誓，不算數；但是指著聖殿裡的金子發誓，就要遵守誓言。』 17 無知的瞎子啊！金子重要呢？還是使金子神聖的聖殿重要呢？ 18 你們又說，『指著祭壇發誓不算數，但是指著壇上的供物發誓，就要遵守誓言。』 19 瞎眼的人啊！供物重要呢？還是使供物神聖的祭壇重要呢？ 20 其實指著祭壇發誓，就是指著祭壇和壇上的一切東西發誓。 21 指著聖殿發誓，就是指著聖殿和住在裡面的上帝發誓。 22 指著天發誓，就是指著上帝的寶座和坐在寶座上的那位發誓。
23 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！你們把薄荷、茴香、芹菜獻上十分之一，卻忽略了律法中更重要的事——公正、憐憫、信實。後者是你們本該做的，前者也不可忽略。 24 瞎眼的嚮導啊！你們濾出蚊蟲，卻吞下駱駝。
25 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！你們洗淨杯盤的外面，裡頭卻盛滿了貪婪和放縱。 26 瞎眼的法利賽人啊！要先洗淨杯盤的裡面，好讓外面也乾淨。[c]
27 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！你們好像粉飾的墳墓，外表好看，裡面卻裝滿了死人的骨頭和各樣污穢之物。 28 你們虛有公義的外表，內心卻充滿了各種的虛偽和罪惡。
29 「虛偽的律法教師和法利賽人啊，你們有禍了！你們為先知建墓，為義人修碑，並且說， 30 『如果我們活在我們祖先的時代，絕不會和他們一起去殺害先知。』 31 這樣，你們自己證明自己是殺害先知之人的後代。 32 去填滿你們祖先的罪惡吧！ 33 你們這些蛇，這些毒蛇的後代啊，你們怎能逃脫地獄的刑罰呢？
34 「看啊，我派先知、智者和律法教師到你們當中，有的會遭到你們的殺害，被你們釘在十字架上；有的會在會堂裡被你們鞭打，被你們從這城追到那城。 35 因此，所有義人在地上所流的血，就是從義人亞伯的血，直到你們在聖所和祭壇之間所殺的巴拉加的兒子撒加利亞的血，都要歸到你們身上。 36 我實在告訴你們，這一切的罪責都要歸到這個世代。
為耶路撒冷哀歎
37 「耶路撒冷啊！耶路撒冷啊！你常殺害先知，又用石頭打死派到你那裡的使者。我多次想要招聚你的兒女，像母雞將小雞聚集在翅膀底下，可是你們卻不肯。 38 看啊！你們的家園將一片荒涼。 39 我告訴你們，從現在起，直到你們說『奉主名來的當受稱頌』那天之前，你們再也見不到我了。」
Matthew 23
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 23
Portrait of the Scribes and Pharisees.[a] 1 Then Jesus addressed the crowds and his disciples: 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore, be careful to do whatever they tell you, but do not follow their example, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy burdens that are difficult to bear and lay them on the shoulders of others, but they will not lift a finger to be of assistance.
5 “Everything they do is meant to attract the attention of others. They widen their phylacteries[b] and lengthen their tassels. 6 They love to have places of honor at banquets and the best seats in synagogues, 7 and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi.’
Do Not Be Called Teacher.[c] 8 “But do not allow yourselves to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one Master, and you are all brethren. 9 Call no one on earth your father, for you have but one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 You must not be called ‘teacher,’ for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 All those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all those who humble themselves will be exalted.
13 Woe to You, Teachers of the Law.[d]“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the entrance to the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor do you allow others to enter.
[14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you devour the houses of widows, while for the sake of appearance you recite lengthy prayers. As a result, you will receive the severest possible condemnation.][e]
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You journey over sea and land to make a single convert,[f] and then you make that convert twice as worthy of Gehenna as you are.
16 [g]“Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If someone swears by the temple, that is not binding, but if someone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?
18 “And you say, ‘If someone swears by the altar, that is not binding, but if someone swears by the offering that lies on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind fools! Which is of greater value—the offering, or the altar that makes the offering sacred?
20 “The one who swears by the altar swears both by it and by everything that lies upon it. 21 The one who swears by the temple swears both by it and by the one who dwells within it. 22 And the one who swears by heaven swears both by the throne of God and by the One who is seated upon it.
23 [h]“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint and dill and cumin, but you have neglected the more important aspects of the Law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced these without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat and then swallow a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You cleanse the outside of a cup and dish, but you leave the inside full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee! First cleanse the inside of the cup and dish so that the outside may also be clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs[i] that look beautiful on the outside, but inside they are full of the bones of the dead and of all kinds of decay. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 The Judgment of God Has Already Come on This Generation.[j]“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build the tombs of the Prophets and adorn the graves of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the time of our ancestors, we never would have collaborated with them in shedding the blood of the Prophets.’ 31 Thus, you acknowledge that you are the descendants of those who murdered the Prophets. 32 Go and complete the work that your ancestors began.
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to Gehenna? 34 Behold, therefore, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. 35 As a result, upon you will fall the guilt of all the innocent blood that has been shed upon the earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. 36 Amen, I say to you, the guilt for all this will fall upon this generation.
37 The Lament over Jerusalem.[k]“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you murder the Prophets and stone the messengers sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you would not allow it! 38 Behold, your house has been abandoned and left desolate. 39 I tell you, you will not see me again until you say: ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:1 It was considered a fine thing to show off Jewish piety even in the way one dressed: men wore phylacteries (see note on v. 5, below), and made extra long the tassels with which, according to the Law, their prayer shawls should be adorned.
- Matthew 23:5 Phylacteries: little boxes containing tiny parchment scrolls that had texts of Scripture on them (Ex 13:1-10; 13:11-16; Deut 6:4-9; 11:13-21) and were placed in little tubes; the boxes were attached to the forehead and the left forearm, in keeping with a literal interpretation of Deut 6:8; 11:18. The tassels had a blue thread running through them as a symbol of heaven; they were to remind the wearer of the commandments of God (Num 15:38).
- Matthew 23:8 Here Jesus obviously does not abolish the words “Rabbi,” “father,” and “teacher.” He condemns ambition and despotism on the one hand and blind servility on the other. The true Father of Christians is God, and the true Master is Christ, the Son of God. In others, paternal and magistral authority is never absolute, but relative and subordinate to the divine authority.
- Matthew 23:13 At that period, Jews tried to win Gentiles over to their religion; those who came were called proselytes. There were also Gentiles who sympathized with Jewish ways and were called “God-fearers.” There must have been rivalries between Jews and Christians in this area.
- Matthew 23:14 This verse is identical with Mk 12:40 and seems to have been interpolated from that text.
- Matthew 23:15 Convert: a proselyte, that is, a Gentile who had accepted the faith of Israel. Worthy of Gehenna: worthy of damnation.
- Matthew 23:16 Jesus shows that the Pharisees were wrong in saying that swearing by the gold of the temple and by the offering that lies on the altar is more binding than swearing by the temple or by the altar.
- Matthew 23:23 The Law prescribed a tithe on the most important products. However, the Pharisees had extended it to even the most insignificant herbs, and yet they neglected the duties toward one’s neighbor, such as justice, compassion, and fidelity. Thus, they strained their liquids so as not to involuntarily swallow an insect and render themselves unclean yet gave no thought to observing the more grave commandments of the moral law.
- Matthew 23:27 You are like whitewashed tombs: an allusion to the custom of whitewashing tombs so that no one might inadvertently touch them and contract a legal uncleanness (see Num 19:16).
- Matthew 23:29 The final curse becomes a prophecy of judgment. It sketches the long history of the opposition between the Israel of human beings and the Israel of God, from the first murder of which the Bible speaks to the last (in the order in which the books of the Bible were placed at that period), that is, from Abel (Gen 4:8) to Zechariah (2 Chr 24:20-22).
- Matthew 23:37 Jesus offers a lament over Jerusalem, which by failing to accept him opened herself to catastrophe. However, at the end time the Israelites will be converted and acclaim Jesus in his Second Coming (Ps 118:26; see Rom 11:25-33).
