Matthew 23
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Religious Hypocrites Denounced
23 Then(A) Jesus spoke to the crowds and to His disciples:(B) 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees are seated in the chair of Moses.[a](C) 3 Therefore do whatever they tell you, and observe it. But don’t do what they do,[b] because they don’t practice what they teach.(D) 4 They tie up heavy loads that are hard to carry[c] and put them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves aren’t willing to lift a finger[d] to move them.(E) 5 They do everything[e] to be observed by others: They enlarge their phylacteries[f](F) and lengthen their tassels.[g](G) 6 They love the place of honor at banquets, the front seats in the synagogues,(H) 7 greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by people.
8 “But as for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher,[h] and you are all brothers.(I) 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven.(J) 10 And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master,[i] the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant.(K) 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.(L)
13 “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You lock up the kingdom of heaven from people. For you don’t go in, and you don’t allow those entering to go in.(M)
[14 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You devour widows’ houses and make long prayers just for show.[j] This is why you will receive a harsher punishment.][k]
15 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to make one proselyte,(N) and when he becomes one, you make him twice as fit for hell[l] as you are!
16 “Woe to you, blind guides,(O) who say, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the sanctuary, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath(P) by the gold of the sanctuary is bound by his oath.’[m] 17 Blind fools![n] For which is greater, the gold or the sanctuary that sanctified the gold? 18 Also, ‘Whoever takes an oath by the altar, it means nothing. But whoever takes an oath by the gift that is on it is bound by his oath.’[o] 19 Blind people![p] For which is greater, the gift or the altar that sanctifies the gift?(Q) 20 Therefore, the one who takes an oath by the altar takes an oath by it and by everything on it. 21 The one who takes an oath by the sanctuary takes an oath by it and by Him who dwells(R) in it. 22 And the one who takes an oath by heaven takes an oath by God’s throne(S) and by Him who sits on it.(T)
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of[q] mint, dill, and cumin,[r] yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice,(U) mercy, and faith. These things should have been done without neglecting the others. 24 Blind guides!(V) You strain out a gnat, yet gulp down a camel!
25 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed[s] and self-indulgence!(W) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup,[t] so the outside of it[u] may also become clean.
27 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(X) which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and every impurity. 28 In the same way, on the outside you seem righteous to people, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 and you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we wouldn’t have taken part with them in shedding the prophets’ blood.’[v] 31 You, therefore, testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ sins
33 “Snakes! Brood of vipers! How can you escape being condemned to hell?[x](Z) 34 This is why I am sending you prophets,(AA) sages, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will flog in your synagogues(AB) and hound from town to town. 35 So all the righteous blood shed on the earth will be charged to you,[y] from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah,(AC) son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar.(AD) 36 I assure you: All these things will come on this generation!(AE)
Jesus’ Lamentation over Jerusalem
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem!(AF) She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks[z] under her wings, yet you were not willing!(AG) 38 See, your house is left to you desolate.(AH) 39 For I tell you, you will never see Me again until you say, ‘He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One’!”(AI)[aa]
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:2 Perhaps a special chair for teaching in synagogues, or a metaphorical phrase for teaching with Moses’ authority
- Matthew 23:3 Lit do according to their works
- Matthew 23:4 Other mss omit that are hard to carry
- Matthew 23:4 Lit lift with their finger
- Matthew 23:5 Lit do all their works
- Matthew 23:5 Small leather boxes containing OT texts, worn by Jews on their arms and foreheads
- Matthew 23:5 Other mss add on their robes
- Matthew 23:8 Other mss add the Messiah
- Matthew 23:10 Or Teacher
- Matthew 23:14 Or prayers with false motivation
- Matthew 23:14 Other mss omit bracketed text
- Matthew 23:15 Lit twice the son of gehenna
- Matthew 23:16 Lit is obligated
- Matthew 23:17 Lit Fools and blind
- Matthew 23:18 Lit is obligated
- Matthew 23:19 Other mss read Fools and blind
- Matthew 23:23 Or You tithe
- Matthew 23:23 A plant whose seeds are used as a seasoning
- Matthew 23:25 Or full of violence
- Matthew 23:26 Other mss add and dish
- Matthew 23:26 Other mss read of them
- Matthew 23:30 Lit have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets
- Matthew 23:32 Lit the measure of your fathers
- Matthew 23:33 Lit escape from the judgment of gehenna
- Matthew 23:35 Lit will come on you
- Matthew 23:37 Or as a mother bird gathers her young
- Matthew 23:39 Ps 118:26
Matye 23
Haitian Creole Version
23 ¶ Apre sa, Jezi pale ak foul moun yo ansanm ak disip li yo, li di yo:
2 Dirèktè lalwa yo ak farizyen yo la pou esplike Lalwa Moyiz la.
3 Se pou nou koute yo, se pou nou fè tou sa yo di nou fè. Men, pa fè tankou yo. Paske yo menm, yo pa fè sa yo di nou fè.
4 Yo mare gwo chay lou yo mete sou zepòl lòt moun. Men, yo menm yo p'ap leve yon ti pwent dwèt pou ede moun yo pote chay la.
5 Tou sa yo fè, se pou moun kapab wè yo. Gade gwosè meday ki make ak pawòl Liv la yo mare sou fwon yo ak nan bra yo! Gade longè ganiti ki nan woulèt rad long yo!
6 Yo renmen pi bon plas nan reseptyon. Yo renmen chita kote pou tout moun wè yo nan sinagòg.
7 Yo renmen pou moun di yo bonjou jouk atè lè yo sou plas piblik, pou moun rele yo: Mèt, Mèt.
8 Men, nou menm, pa fè moun rele nou Mèt, paske se yon sèl mèt nou genyen. Apa sa, nou tout se frè.
9 Pa rele pesonn sou latè papa, paske nou gen yon sèl papa: sa ki nan syèl la.
10 Pa kite yo rele nou chèf, paske nou gen yon sèl chèf, se Kris la.
11 Moun ki pi grannèg nan mitan nou an, se moun k'ap sèvi nou an.
12 Moun ki vle leve tèt li, y'a desann li. Moun ki desann tèt li, y'a leve li.
13 ¶ Malè pou nou, nou menm dirèktè lalwa ak farizyen, bann ipokrit! Nou fèmen pòt ki mennen nan Peyi Wa ki nan syèl la pou pesonn pa antre. Nou menm, nou pa antre ladan li. Lèfini, moun ki ta vle antre, nou enpoze yo antre.
14 Malè pou nou, nou menm dirèktè lalwa ak farizyen, bann ipokrit! N'ap piye pòv vèv yo nèt ale, an menm tan n'ap plede fè lapriyè byen long pou parèt pi bon. Se poutèt sa, kondannasyon nou pral pi rèd toujou.
15 Malè pou nou, nou menm dirèktè lalwa ak farizyen, bann ipokrit! N'ap vwayaje toupatou sou lanmè ak sou latè pou nou ka konvèti yon moun lòt nasyon nan relijyon nou an. Lè nou resi jwenn yonn, nou fè l' tounen yon pitit Satan de fwa pi mechan pase nou.
16 Malè pou nou, avèg k'ap kondi moun! Nou di konsa: Yon moun te mèt sèmante sou tanp lan, li pa bezwen kenbe pawòl li pou sa. Men, si l' sèmante sou lò ki nan tanp la, se pou l' kenbe pawòl li.
17 Bann egare, bann moun je pete! Kisa ki pi konsekan: lò a osinon tanp lan kote yo fè lò a sèvi pou Bondye?
18 Nou di ankò: O wi, si yon moun sèmante sou lòtèl la, se pa anyen sa. Li pa bezwen kenbe pawòl li. Men, si l' sèmante sou ofrann ki sou lòtèl la, se pou l' kenbe pawòl li.
19 Bann je pete! Kisa ki pi konsekan: ofrann lan osinon lòtèl la kote yo mete ofrann lan apa pou Bondye?
20 Se sa ki fè, moun ki sèmante sou lòtèl la, li sèmante sou lòtèl la ansanm ak tou sa ki sou li.
21 Moun ki sèmante sou tanp lan, li sèmante sou tanp lan ansanm ak sou Bondye ki rete nan tanp lan.
22 Moun ki sèmante sou syèl la, li sèmante sou fotèy kote Bondye chita a ansanm ak sou Bondye li menm ki chita sou fotèy la.
23 Malè pou nou, nou menm dirèktè lalwa ak farizyen, bann ipokrit! Nou bay Bondye ladim nan rekòt pye mant, pye ani etwale ak pye pèsi, men, nou neglije bagay ki pi konsekan nan lalwa a: n'ap fè lenjistis, nou pa gen kè sansib, nou pa kenbe pawòl nou. Men sa pou n' te fè san nou pa neglije lòt bagay yo.
24 Nou menm k'ap kondi pèp la, nou se yon bann avèg pou tèt pa nou. Nou pase lèt la nan paswa pou nou wete ti mouch ki tonbe ladan li. Men, nou vale yon chwal!
25 Malè pou nou, nou menm dirèktè lalwa ak farizyen, bann ipokrit! Nou netwaye tout deyò gode a ak deyò plat la byen netwaye. Men, anndan yo plen ak bagay nou pran nan vòlò, nan fè visye.
26 Farizyen avèg! Pwòpte anndan gode a ak anndan plat la anvan. Se lè sa a deyò yo va pwòp tou.
27 Malè pou nou, nou menm dirèktè lalwa ak farizyen, bann ipokrit! Nou sanble tonm yo blanchi nan simityè. Deyò yo parèt byen bèl, anndan yo plen ak zosman mò ak tout kalite vye bagay pouri.
28 Konsa tou, sou deyò nan je moun, nou sanble moun k'ap mache dwat devan Bondye. Men anndan kè nou, nou plen ipokrizi ak mechanste.
29 Malè pou nou, nou menm dirèktè lalwa ak farizyen, bann ipokrit! Gade, n'ap bati bèl tonm pou pwofèt yo, nou mete flè sou kavo moun ki te mache dwat devan Bondye yo.
30 Epi n'ap di: Si nou te viv nan tan zansèt nou yo, nou pa ta dakò ak yo lè yo t'ap touye pwofèt yo.
31 Lè nou di sa, nou admèt nou menm tou se pitit pitit moun ki te ansasinen pwofèt yo nou ye.
32 Konsa, nou mèt fin fè sa zansèt nou yo te kòmanse fè a.
33 Bann rize, bann vèmen! Kouman n'a fè chape anba chatiman lanfè a?
34 ¶ Se poutèt sa, men sa ki genyen: mwen pral voye pwofèt, moun ki gen bon konprann ak dirèktè lalwa ban nou. Nou pral touye kèk, gen ladan yo n'ap kloure sou kwa, gen ladan yo n'ap bat ak fwèt nan sinagòg nou yo, n'ap pousib yo soti yon lavil al nan yon lòt.
35 Konsa, n'ap reskonsab san tout inonsan ki koule sou latè, depi san Abèl, nonm ki te fè sa ki byen devan Bondye a, jouk san Zakari, pitit Barachi, moun nou te ansasinen ant lòtèl la ak kote ki rezève apa pou Bondye nan tanp lan.
36 Sa m'ap di nou la a, se vre wi: Chatiman gen pou tonbe sou moun k'ap viv koulye a pou tout krim sa yo.
37 Jerizalèm, Jerizalèm, ou menm ki touye pwofèt yo, ou menm k'ap touye moun Bondye voye ba ou yo ak kout wòch, depi lontan mwen te vle sanble moun ou yo tankou manman poul k'ap sanble pitit li anba zèl li, men ou pa t' vle!
38 Enben, tout kay ou yo pral rete san yon moun ladan yo.
39 Paske, m'ap di ou sa: Depi jòdi a, nou p'ap wè m' ankò jouk lè a va rive pou nou di: Benediksyon pou Moun ki vini nan non Mèt la.
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