Matthew 23
Common English Bible
Ways of the legal experts and the Pharisees
23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and his disciples, 2 “The legal experts and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. 3 Therefore, you must take care to do everything they say. But don’t do what they do. 4 For they tie together heavy packs that are impossible to carry. They put them on the shoulders of others, but are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. 5 Everything they do, they do to be noticed by others. They make extra-wide prayer bands for their arms and long tassels for their clothes. 6 They love to sit in places of honor at banquets and in the synagogues. 7 They love to be greeted with honor in the markets and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi.’
8 “But you shouldn’t be called Rabbi, because you have one teacher, and all of you are brothers and sisters. 9 Don’t call anybody on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is heavenly. 10 Don’t be called teacher, because Christ is your one teacher. 11 But the one who is greatest among you will be your servant. 12 All who lift themselves up will be brought low. But all who make themselves low will be lifted up.
Condemnation of the legal experts and the Pharisees
13 “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You shut people out of the kingdom of heaven. You don’t enter yourselves, and you won’t allow those who want to enter to do so.[a]
15 “How terrible it will be for you, legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You travel over sea and land to make one convert. But when they’ve been converted, they become twice the child of hell you are.
16 “How terrible it will be for you blind guides who say, ‘If people swear by the temple, it’s nothing. But if people swear by the gold in the temple, they are obligated to do what they swore.’ 17 You foolish and blind people! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy? 18 You say, ‘If people swear by the altar, it’s nothing. But if they swear by the gift on the altar, they are obligated to do what they swore.’ 19 You blind people! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy? 20 Therefore, those who swear by the altar swear by it and by everything that’s on it. 21 Those who swear by the temple swear by it and by everything that’s part of it. 22 Those who swear by heaven swear by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.
23 “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You give to God a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, but you forget about the more important matters of the Law: justice, peace, and faith. You ought to give a tenth but without forgetting about those more important matters. 24 You blind guides! You filter out an ant but swallow a camel.
25 “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and plate, but inside they are full of violence and pleasure seeking. 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup so that the outside of the cup will be clean too.
27 “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs. They look beautiful on the outside. But inside they are full of dead bones and all kinds of filth. 28 In the same way you look righteous to people. But inside you are full of pretense and rebellion.
29 “How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 You say, ‘If we had lived in our ancestors’ days, we wouldn’t have joined them in killing the prophets.’ 31 You testify against yourselves that you are children of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Go ahead, complete what your ancestors did. 33 You snakes! You children of snakes! How will you be able to escape the judgment of hell? 34 Therefore, look, I’m sending you prophets, wise people, and legal experts. Some of them you will kill and crucify. And some you will beat in your synagogues and chase from city to city. 35 Therefore, upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been poured out on the earth, from the blood of that righteous man Abel to the blood of Zechariah the son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the temple and the altar. 36 I assure you that all these things will come upon this generation.
Crying over Jerusalem
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! You who kill the prophets and stone those who were sent to you. How often I wanted to gather your people together, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings. But you didn’t want that. 38 Look, your house is left to you deserted. 39 I tell you, you won’t see me until you say, Blessings on the one who comes in the Lord’s name.”[b]
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:13 Most critical editions of the Gk New Testament omit 23:14 How terrible it will be for you legal experts and Pharisees! Hypocrites! You eat up widows’ houses and make a show of praying long prayers. Therefore, you will receive greater judgment.
- Matthew 23:39 Ps 118:26
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.
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
Mateo 23
Ang Bagong Tipan: Filipino Standard Version
Babala Laban sa mga Tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Fariseo(A)
23 Pagkatapos nito ay nagsalita si Jesus sa maraming tao at sa kanyang mga alagad. 2 Wika niya, “Nakaupo sa upuan ni Moises ang mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at ang mga Fariseo. 3 Kaya't inyong isagawa at sundin ang lahat ng mga sinasabi nila sa inyo, ngunit huwag ninyong gawin ang kanilang mga ginagawa, sapagkat iba ang kanilang ginagawa sa kanilang sinasabi. 4 Nagtatali sila ng mabibigat na dalahin [at mahirap pasanin,][a] at ipinabubuhat nila sa mga tao; ngunit sila mismo ay ayaw man lamang humipo sa mga ito. 5 Ang lahat ng kanilang ginagawa ay upang ipakita lamang sa mga tao.(B) Pinapalapad nila ang kanilang mga pilakteria,[b] at pinahahaba ang laylayan ng kanilang mga damit. 6 Mahilig silang umupo sa mga upuang-pandangal sa mga piging at sa mga pangunahing upuan sa sinagoga. 7 Nais nilang pagpugayan sila ng mga tao sa pamilihan at tawagin silang ‘Rabbi’. 8 Ngunit hindi kayo dapat tawaging Rabbi, sapagkat iisa ang inyong guro at kayong lahat ay magkakapatid. 9 Huwag ninyong tawaging ama ninyo ang sinuman sa lupa; sapagkat iisa ang inyong Ama na nasa langit. 10 Huwag din kayong magpatawag na tagapanguna, sapagkat iisa ang inyong tagapanguna, ang Cristo. 11 Ang pinakadakila sa inyo ang magiging lingkod ninyo.(C) 12 Ang nagtataas sa sarili (D) ay ibababa, at ang nagbababa sa sarili ay itataas.
13 “Kaysaklap ng inyong sasapitin, kayong mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Fariseo, mga mapagkunwari! Sapagkat isinasara ninyo ang kaharian ng langit sa harap ng mga tao; palibhasa, kayo mismo ay hindi pumapasok at ang mga nagnanais pumasok ay hindi ninyo pinapayagang makapasok. 14 [Kaysaklap ng inyong sasapitin, mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Fariseo, mga mapagkunwari! Sapagkat nilalamon ninyo ang mga bahay ng mga babaing balo, at idinadahilan pa ninyo ang mahahabang panalangin: kaya't tatanggap kayo ng mas mabigat na parusa.][c] 15 Kaysaklap ng inyong sasapitin, mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Fariseo, mga mapagkunwari! Sapagkat nilalakbay ninyo ang dagat at ang lupa upang makahikayat ng kahit isa, at kapag nahikayat na siya, ginagawa ninyo siyang anak ng impiyerno na doble pang masahol kaysa inyong mga sarili.
16 “Kaysaklap ng inyong sasapitin, mga bulag na tagaakay. Sinasabi ninyo, ‘Kung ang sinuman ay manumpa sa ngalan ng templo, ay wala iyong kabuluhan. Subalit kung ang sinuman ay manumpa sa ngalan ng gintong nasa templo, siya ay mananagot.’ 17 Mga hangal at mga bulag! Alin ba ang mas mahalaga, ang ginto o ang templong nagpabanal sa ginto? 18 At sinasabi pa ninyo, ‘Kung ang sinuman ay manumpa sa pamamagitan ng dambana, wala iyong kabuluhan; subalit kung sinuma'y manumpa sa pamamagitan ng alay na nasa ibabaw ng dambana, siya ay mananagot.’ 19 Mga bulag! Alin ba ang mas mahalaga, ang alay o ang dambana na nagpabanal sa alay? 20 Kaya't ang nanunumpa sa pamamagitan ng dambana ay nanunumpa sa pamamagitan niyon, at sa lahat ng mga bagay na nasa ibabaw niyon. 21 At ang nanunumpa sa ngalan ng templo ay nanunumpa sa pamamagitan niyon, at sa kanya na naninirahan doon. 22 Ang (E) nanunumpa sa ngalan ng langit ay nanunumpa sa harapan ng trono ng Diyos at sa kanyang nakaupo roon.
23 “Kaysaklap ng inyong sasapitin, (F) mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Fariseo, mga mapagkunwari! Sapagkat nagbibigay kayo ng ikasampung bahagi ng inyong mga gulayin gaya ng yerbabuena, ng anis at ng komino, subalit kinakaligtaan ninyo ang mas mahahalagang bagay ng Kautusan tulad ng katarungan, kahabagan, at katapatan. Dapat lamang ninyong gawin ang mga ito, nang hindi pinababayaan ang iba. 24 Mga bulag na tagaakay! Sinasala ninyo ang niknik, nilulunok naman ninyo ang kamelyo!
25 “Kaysaklap ng inyong sasapitin, mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Fariseo, mga mapagkunwari! Sapagkat nililinis ninyo ang labas ng kopa at ng pinggan, ngunit sa loob ay punung-puno ang mga ito ng katakawan at kalayawan. 26 Bulag na Fariseo! Linisin mo muna ang loob ng kopa at ng pinggan,[d] at magiging malinis din ang labas nito.
27 “Kaysaklap ng inyong sasapitin, (G) mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Fariseo, mga mapagkunwari! Sapagkat ang katulad ninyo'y mga libingang pinaputi na magandang tingnan sa labas, ngunit sa loob ay puno ng mga buto ng mga bangkay at ng sari-saring kabulukan. 28 At ganyan din kayo! Sa labas ay parang mga banal kung pagmasdan, ngunit sa loob ay punung-puno kayo ng pagkukunwari at kabuktutan.
29 “Kaysaklap ng inyong sasapitin, mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan at mga Fariseo, mga mapagkunwari! Ipinagtatayo ninyo ng mga libingan ang mga propeta, at pinagaganda ang mga bantayog ng mga matuwid. 30 Sinasabi pa ninyo, ‘Kung nabuhay kami noong panahon ng aming mga ninuno, hindi kami sasali sa kanila sa pagpapadanak ng dugo ng mga propeta.’ 31 Kaya't kayo na rin ang nagpapatotoo laban sa inyong mga sarili, na kayo'y kalahi ng mga pumaslang sa mga propeta. 32 Punuin na ninyo ang salop ng inyong mga ninuno. 33 Mga (H) ahas! Mga anak ng mga ulupong! Paano ninyo matatakasan ang parusa sa impiyerno?[e] 34 Tandaan ninyo, dahil dito'y nagsusugo ako sa inyo ng mga propeta, ng matatalino, at ng mga tagapagturo ng Kautusan. Ang iba sa kanila'y inyong papatayin at ipapako sa krus. Ang iba nama'y inyong hahagupitin sa inyong mga sinagoga, at tutugisin sa bayan-bayan. 35 Sa gayong paraan (I) ay mabubuntong lahat sa inyo ang walang salang dugo na dumanak sa ibabaw ng lupa, mula sa dugo ni Abel na matuwid, hanggang sa dugo ni Zacarias, anak ni Baraquias, na inyong pinaslang sa pagitan ng dakong banal at ng dambana. 36 Tinitiyak ko sa inyo, ang lahat ng mga ito ay sasapit sa salinlahing ito.
Tinangisan ni Jesus ang Jerusalem(J)
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Ang lungsod na pumapatay ng mga propeta at bumabato sa mga isinusugo sa kanya! Ilang ulit kong ninais na tipunin ang iyong mga anak, na gaya ng pagtitipon ng inahing manok sa kanyang mga sisiw sa ilalim ng kanyang mga pakpak, ngunit ayaw ninyo! 38 Tingnan (K) ninyo, sa inyo'y iniiwang giba ang inyong bahay. 39 At (L) sinasabi ko sa inyo, mula ngayon ay hindi na ninyo ako makikita hanggang sabihin ninyo, ‘Pinagpala ang dumarating sa pangalan ng Panginoon.’ ”
Footnotes
- Mateo 23:4 Sa ibang manuskrito wala ang mga salitang ito.
- Mateo 23:5 Ang pilakteria ay sisidlang balat kung saan inilalagay ang sipi ng Exodo 13:1-6 at Deuteronomio 6:4-9; 11:13-21. Bilang pagsunod sa Kautusan, itinatali ito sa noo o sa kaliwang braso malapit sa puso.
- Mateo 23:14 Sa ibang manuskrito wala ang talatang ito.
- Mateo 23:26 Sa ibang mga manuskrito wala ang katagang at ng pinggan.
- Mateo 23:33 Sa Griyego, Gehenna.
Copyright © 2011 by Common English Bible
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Ang Bagong Tipan: Filipino Standard Version, Copyright © Philippine Bible Society 2009.
