Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees

23 Then Jesus (A)said to the crowds and to his disciples, (B)“The scribes and the Pharisees (C)sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, (D)but not the works they do. (E)For they preach, but do not practice. (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. (G)They do all their deeds (H)to be seen by others. For they make (I)their phylacteries broad and (J)their fringes long, and they (K)love the place of honor at feasts and (L)the best seats in the synagogues and (M)greetings in (N)the marketplaces and being called (O)rabbi[b] by others. (P)But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are (Q)all brothers.[c] (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.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 23:4 Some manuscripts omit hard to bear
  2. Matthew 23:7 Rabbi means my teacher, or my master; also verse 8
  3. Matthew 23:8 Or brothers and sisters

Ways of the legal experts and the Pharisees

23 Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and his disciples, “The legal experts and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat. Therefore, you must take care to do everything they say. But don’t do what they do. 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. 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. They love to sit in places of honor at banquets and in the synagogues. They love to be greeted with honor in the markets and to be addressed as ‘Rabbi.’

“But you shouldn’t be called Rabbi, because you have one teacher, and all of you are brothers and sisters. 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.

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