Matthew 23
English Standard Version
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
23 Then Jesus (A)said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 (B)“The scribes and the Pharisees (C)sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, (D)but not the works they do. (E)For they preach, but do not practice. 4 (F)They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,[a] and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 (G)They do all their deeds (H)to be seen by others. For they make (I)their phylacteries broad and (J)their fringes long, 6 and they (K)love the place of honor at feasts and (L)the best seats in the synagogues 7 and (M)greetings in (N)the marketplaces and being called (O)rabbi[b] by others. 8 (P)But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are (Q)all brothers.[c] 9 (R)And call no man your father on earth, for (S)you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, (T)the Christ. 11 (U)The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 (V)Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
13 “But woe (W)to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you (X)shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you (Y)neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.[d] 15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single (Z)proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a (AA)child of (AB)hell[e] as yourselves.
16 “Woe to (AC)you, (AD)blind guides, who say, (AE)‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or (AF)the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by (AG)the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.’ 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or (AH)the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by (AI)him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by (AJ)heaven swears by (AK)the throne of God and by (AL)him who sits upon it.
23 (AM)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For (AN)you tithe mint and dill and (AO)cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: (AP)justice and mercy and faithfulness. (AQ)These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing (AR)a camel!
25 (AS)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For (AT)you clean the outside of (AU)the cup and the plate, but inside they are full of (AV)greed and self-indulgence. 26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of (AW)the cup and the plate, that the outside also may be clean.
27 (AX)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like (AY)whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and (AZ)all uncleanness. 28 So you also (BA)outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of (BB)hypocrisy and lawlessness.
29 (BC)“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, 30 saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 Thus you witness against yourselves that you are (BD)sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 (BE)Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers. 33 You serpents, (BF)you brood of vipers, how are you to escape being sentenced to (BG)hell? 34 (BH)Therefore (BI)I send you (BJ)prophets and wise men and (BK)scribes, (BL)some of whom you will kill and crucify, and (BM)some you will (BN)flog in your synagogues and (BO)persecute from town to town, 35 so that on you may come all (BP)the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous (BQ)Abel to the blood of (BR)Zechariah the son of Barachiah,[f] whom you murdered between (BS)the sanctuary and (BT)the altar. 36 Truly, I say to you, (BU)all these things will come upon this generation.
Lament over Jerusalem
37 (BV)“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that (BW)kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have (BX)gathered (BY)your children together (BZ)as a hen gathers her brood (CA)under her wings, and (CB)you were not willing! 38 See, (CC)your house is left to you desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, (CD)‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’”
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:4 Some manuscripts omit hard to bear
- Matthew 23:7 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master; also verse 8
- Matthew 23:8 Or brothers and sisters
- Matthew 23:13 Some manuscripts add here (or after verse 12) verse 14: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses and for a pretense you make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation
- Matthew 23:15 Greek Gehenna; also verse 33
- Matthew 23:35 Some manuscripts omit the son of Barachiah
Matthew 23
New International Version
A Warning Against Hypocrisy(A)(B)
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the law(C) and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. 3 So you must be careful to do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy, cumbersome loads and put them on other people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.(D)
5 “Everything they do is done for people to see:(E) They make their phylacteries[a](F) wide and the tassels on their garments(G) long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues;(H) 7 they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.(I)
8 “But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi,’ for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father,(J) and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you will be your servant.(K) 12 For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.(L)
Seven Woes on the Teachers of the Law and the Pharisees
13 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!(M) You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.(N) [14] [b]
15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert,(O) and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell(P) as you are.
16 “Woe to you, blind guides!(Q) You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gold of the temple is bound by that oath.’(R) 17 You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred?(S) 18 You also say, ‘If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but anyone who swears by the gift on the altar is bound by that oath.’ 19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred?(T) 20 Therefore, anyone who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And anyone who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells(U) in it. 22 And anyone who swears by heaven swears by God’s throne and by the one who sits on it.(V)
23 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth(W) of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness.(X) You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24 You blind guides!(Y) You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
25 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish,(Z) but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.(AA) 26 Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.
27 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs,(AB) which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.
29 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets(AC) and decorate the graves of the righteous. 30 And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our ancestors, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ 31 So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.(AD) 32 Go ahead, then, and complete(AE) what your ancestors started!(AF)
33 “You snakes! You brood of vipers!(AG) How will you escape being condemned to hell?(AH) 34 Therefore I am sending you prophets and sages and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify;(AI) others you will flog in your synagogues(AJ) and pursue from town to town.(AK) 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel(AL) to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah,(AM) whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.(AN) 36 Truly I tell you, all this will come on this generation.(AO)
37 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,(AP) how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,(AQ) and you were not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you desolate.(AR) 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’[c]”(AS)
Footnotes
- Matthew 23:5 That is, boxes containing Scripture verses, worn on forehead and arm
- Matthew 23:14 Some manuscripts include here words similar to Mark 12:40 and Luke 20:47.
- Matthew 23:39 Psalm 118:26
Mateo 23
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Jesús denuncia a los escribas y fariseos
23 (A)Entonces Jesús habló a la muchedumbre y a Sus discípulos: 2 «Los escribas y los fariseos(B)se han sentado en la cátedra de Moisés. 3 De modo que hagan y observen todo lo que les digan; pero no hagan conforme a sus obras, porque ellos dicen y no hacen. 4 Atan cargas pesadas(C)y difíciles de llevar, y las ponen sobre las espaldas de los hombres, pero ellos ni con un dedo quieren moverlas.
5 »Sino que hacen todas sus obras para ser vistos por los hombres(D) ; pues agrandan sus filacterias[a](E) y alargan los adornos[b] de sus mantos(F) . 6 Aman el lugar de honor en los banquetes(G)y los primeros asientos en las sinagogas, 7 y los saludos respetuosos en las plazas y ser llamados por los hombres Rabí[c](H).
8 »Pero ustedes no dejen(I) que los llamen Rabí(J) ; porque Uno es su Maestro y todos ustedes son hermanos. 9 Y no llamen a nadie padre suyo en la tierra, porque Uno es su Padre(K), el que está en los cielos. 10 Ni dejen que los llamen preceptores[d]; porque Uno es su Preceptor, Cristo. 11 Pero el mayor de ustedes será su servidor(L). 12 Y cualquiera que se engrandece, será humillado, y cualquiera que se humille, será engrandecido(M).
Ocho ayes contra los escribas y fariseos
13 »Pero, ¡ay de ustedes, escribas y fariseos, hipócritas(N) que cierran el reino de los cielos(O) delante de los hombres! Porque ni entran ustedes, ni dejan entrar a los que están entrando. 14 [e]¡Ay de ustedes, escribas y fariseos, hipócritas, que devoran las casas de las viudas(P), aun cuando por pretexto hacen largas oraciones! Por eso recibirán mayor condenación.
15 »¡Ay de ustedes, escribas y fariseos, hipócritas, que recorren el mar y la tierra para hacer un prosélito(Q) , y cuando llega a serlo, lo hacen hijo del infierno[f](R) dos veces más que ustedes!
16 »¡Ay de ustedes, guías ciegos(S) ! Porque dicen: “No es nada si alguien jura por el templo[g](T) ; pero el que jura por el oro del templo[h] , contrae obligación”. 17 ¡Insensatos y ciegos! Porque ¿qué es más importante[i](U): el oro, o el templo[j]que santificó el oro?
18 »También ustedes dicen: “No es nada si alguien jura por el altar; pero el que jura por la ofrenda que está sobre él, contrae obligación”. 19 ¡Ciegos! Porque ¿qué es más importante[k](V): la ofrenda, o el altar que santifica la ofrenda? 20 Por eso, el que jura por el altar, jura por él y por todo lo que está sobre él; 21 y el que jura por el templo[l], jura por él y por Aquel que en él habita(W); 22 y el que jura por el cielo, jura por el trono de Dios(X)y por Aquel que está sentado en él.
23 »¡Ay de ustedes, escribas y fariseos, hipócritas(Y) que pagan el diezmo de la menta, del anís y del comino, y han descuidado los preceptos más importantes de la ley: la justicia, la misericordia y la fidelidad! Estas son las cosas que debían haber hecho, sin descuidar aquellas. 24 ¡Guías ciegos(Z), que cuelan el mosquito y se tragan el camello!
25 »¡Ay de ustedes, escribas y fariseos, hipócritas, que limpian el exterior del vaso y del plato(AA) , pero por dentro están llenos de[m] robo y de desenfreno! 26 ¡Fariseo ciego! Limpia primero lo de adentro del vaso y del plato(AB), para que lo de afuera también quede limpio.
27 »¡Ay de ustedes, escribas y fariseos, hipócritas(AC) que son semejantes a sepulcros blanqueados! Por fuera lucen hermosos, pero por dentro están llenos de huesos de muertos y de toda inmundicia. 28 Así también ustedes, por fuera parecen justos a los hombres, pero por dentro están llenos de hipocresía y de iniquidad.
29 »¡Ay de ustedes, escribas y fariseos, hipócritas(AD) ! Porque edifican los sepulcros de los profetas y adornan los monumentos de los justos, 30 y dicen: “Si nosotros hubiéramos vivido[n]en los días de nuestros padres, no hubiéramos sido sus cómplices en derramar la sangre de los profetas”. 31 Así que dan testimonio en contra de ustedes mismos, que son hijos[o]de los que asesinaron a los profetas(AE). 32 ¡Llenen, pues[p], la medida de la culpa de sus padres!
33 »¡Serpientes! ¡Camada de víboras(AF) ! ¿Cómo escaparán del juicio[q] del infierno[r](AG) ? 34 (AH)Por tanto, miren, Yo les envío profetas, sabios y escribas(AI). A algunos de ellos, ustedes los matarán y crucificarán, y a otros los azotarán en sus sinagogas(AJ)y los perseguirán de ciudad en ciudad(AK), 35 para que recaiga[s]sobre ustedes la culpa de toda la sangre justa derramada sobre la tierra, desde la sangre del justo Abel(AL)hasta la sangre de Zacarías, hijo de Berequías(AM), a quien ustedes asesinaron entre el templo[t]y el altar(AN). 36 En verdad les digo que todo esto vendrá sobre esta generación(AO).
Lamentación sobre Jerusalén
37 »¡(AP) Jerusalén, Jerusalén, la que mata a los profetas y apedrea a los que son enviados a ella(AQ) ! ¡Cuántas veces quise juntar a tus hijos, como la gallina junta sus pollitos debajo de sus alas(AR) , y no quisiste! 38 Por tanto, la casa de ustedes(AS)se les deja desierta[u]. 39 Porque les digo que desde ahora en adelante no me verán más hasta que digan: “Bendito Aquel que viene en el nombre del Señor(AT)”».
Footnotes
- 23:5 I.e. pequeñas cajas que contenían textos de las Escrituras, que se usaban para propósitos religiosos.
- 23:5 I.e. flecos.
- 23:7 O Maestro.
- 23:10 O maestros.
- 23:14 Este vers. no aparece en los mss. más antiguos.
- 23:15 Gr. guéenna.
- 23:16 O santuario.
- 23:16 O santuario.
- 23:17 Lit. ¿cuál es mayor.
- 23:17 O santuario.
- 23:19 Lit. ¿cuál es mayor.
- 23:21 O santuario.
- 23:25 O por causa de.
- 23:30 Lit. hubiéramos estado.
- 23:31 O descendientes.
- 23:32 Lit. Y ustedes llenen.
- 23:33 O de la sentencia.
- 23:33 Gr. guéenna.
- 23:35 Lit. venga.
- 23:35 O santuario.
- 23:38 Algunos mss. no incluyen: desierta.
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